Introduction

New: The Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine

Adults (ages 18 and older)

Teens (ages 12 to 17)

Children (ages 5 to 11)

Young Children (Ages 6 months to 4)

People Who are Immunocompromised

All currently approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and reduce your risk of severe illness. Vaccination can reduce the spread of disease, which helps protect those who get vaccinated and the people around them.

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(As of 10-12-22)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people ages 5 and older who are eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot receive the new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA has authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech booster for anyone 5 or older, and the Moderna vaccine for anyone 6 or older, who received an initial vaccination or booster shot at least two months ago. The original monovalent vaccine is no longer authorized for use as a COVID-19 booster dose.

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• Adults should receive two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine or the Novavax protein subunit vaccine to complete their primary vaccine series.

• Booster shots have been shown to increase circulating antibodies against the virus and greatly reduce the likelihood of severe illness and hospitalization. While boosted individuals can still contract the virus, illness is much milder. UMass Memorial Health leadership strongly recommends all healthcare workers receive the booster.

• Adults should receive a bivalent COVID-19 booster shot if it’s been at least:
  
  • Two months since your second dose of the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine or
  • Two months since your last booster dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine 

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• Teens should receive two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccines to complete their primary vaccine series.
• Teens should receive a Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster shot when it has been at least two months since their primary vaccine series or two months since their last booster shot.

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• Children ages 5 to 11 should receive two doses of the Pfizer vaccine or two doses of the Moderna vaccine to complete their primary vaccine series.
• Children should receive a Pfizer (ages 5 to 11) or Moderna (ages 6 to 11) bivalent booster shot once it has been at least two months since their primary vaccine series.

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• Young children should receive either three doses of the Pfizer vaccine (children under age 5) to complete their primary vaccine series. The first two are given three weeks apart and the third is given eight weeks after the second shot, or
• Two doses of the Moderna vaccine (children under age 6), delivered four weeks apart, to complete their primary vaccine series.
• The bivalent booster dose is not currently authorized for this age group.

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• Adults (ages 18 and older) who are immunocompromised should receive an additional primary dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days after completing their primary vaccine series. They should also receive a Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster shot two months after receiving the third primary dose or two months after receiving their last booster dose.
• Teens (ages 12 to 17) who are immunocompromised should receive an additional primary dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days after completing their primary vaccine series. They should also receive a Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster shot two months after receiving the third primary dose or two months after receiving their last booster dose.
• Children (ages 5 to 11) who are immunocompromised should receive an additional primary dose of the Pfizer vaccine (ages 5 to 11) or an additional primary dose of the Moderna vaccine (ages 6 to 11) at least 28 days after completing their primary vaccine series. They should also receive a Pfizer (ages 5 to 11) or Moderna (ages 6 to 11) bivalent booster shot two months after receiving the third primary dose or two months after receiving their last booster dose.
• Young Children (ages 6 months to 4 years) who are immunocompromised should receive an additional primary dose of the Pfizer vaccine (ages 6 months to 4 years) 8 weeks after completing their primary vaccine series, or an additional primary dose of the Moderna vaccine (ages 6 months to 5 years) an additional four weeks after completing their primary vaccine series. Currently the bivalent booster dose is not authorized for this age group.

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