Covid-19
Vaccine and Booster Information
In addition to clinical trials, studies of how the vaccines work in the real world show that the vaccines work well. Researchers continue to gather and analyze data about the vaccines to make sure they work well against new variants of the virus, such as Omicron. Read the latest on vaccine effectiveness.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Bivalent Booster Shots
A COVID-19 booster shot is an additional dose of the vaccine that helps people maintain their level of immunity for longer. Booster doses are given to people who have built enough protection after their vaccine, but that protection decreases over time, a situation called waning immunity. All booster doses are now known as bivalent boosts, meaning they it contains the mRNA vaccine for the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the mRNA vaccine for the omicron strain, specifically targeting a part that is found in both the BA.4 and BA.5 variants.
- Updated (bivalent) boosters became available on:
- September 2, 2022, for people aged 12 years and older
- October 12, 2022, for people aged 5–11 years
- December 9, 2022, for children aged 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine primary series
- Updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine also became available on December 9, 2022 for children aged 6 months–4 years to complete the primary series.
- CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group:
Booster shots are intended to bolster the effect of the initial dose(s) of the vaccine. Data has shown that after several months the effectiveness of the vaccine, while still substantial, does decline somewhat. This does not mean that the vaccine is no longer working.
The highly-transmissible Omicron variant makes booster shots even more important. According to the CDC, strong immunity will likely prevent serious illness, and the CDC recommends that everyone 18 and older receive a bivalent booster now two months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna series.
Booster shots are used for many types of vaccines, such as for tetanus or whooping cough. Unlike an additional dose of vaccine that is given to individuals who are immunocompromised and do not build up enough protection when they get the initial vaccination, booster doses are given to people who have built enough protection after their vaccine, but that protection decreases over time, a situation called waning immunity.
Talk with your health care provider about any questions or concerns you have about getting a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.
Check with the COVID-19 vaccine providers in your community. Bivalent booster shots are widely available through pharmacies, local health departments and other providers. Find a vaccine provider in our county-by-county list or visit the NYS Department of Health website on boosters.
If you or someone you know is homebound in the Finger Lakes Region and would like to receive a first dose, booster shot, or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, learn about how to receive vaccine while homebound.
Do the Vaccines Work?
Yes, the COVID-19 vaccines reduce your risk of getting COVID-19 and help protect you from severe illness.
It’s important to understand that while COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe disease and death, no vaccine is perfect. Some people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19 (also known as breakthrough infections). However, evidence shows when people who are fully vaccinated get COVID-19, they are less likely to get seriously ill than those who are not vaccinated and get COVID-19. They are less likely to be hospitalized and die than people who are not vaccinated.
The COVID-19 vaccines are effective, but, like any vaccine, they will not prevent illness 100% of the time. This means that a small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus that causes it. These are called “vaccine breakthrough cases.”
Even though breakthrough infections can occur, it’s still important to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Fully vaccinated people who have breakthrough infections are more likely to have mild or no symptoms and are much less likely to be hospitalized or die than people with similar risk factors who are not vaccinated. And studies show that fully vaccinated people can be less likely to spread the virus to others, even if they do get COVID-19.
Studies show that the vaccines’ ability to protect against the COVID-19 virus may decrease over time, making them less able to prevent against infection, particularly against the Delta variant. According to the CDC, this is likely due to a couple of factors: decreasing protection as time passes (also called waning immunity) and the greater infectiousness of the Delta variant.
The recent emergence of the Omicron variant makes booster shots even more important. Scientists around the world are studying vaccine effectiveness related to this variant, which appears to be highly transmissible. According to the CDC, strong immunity will likely prevent serious illness, and the CDC recommends that everyone 18 and older receive a booster six months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna series.
The vaccines continue to be very effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death from more widely circulating variants of COVID-19. Learn more about COVID-19 booster shots and who should receive them.
It is possible to get COVID-19 more than once, and we still do not know how long a person is protected by natural immunity after they have recovered from COVID-19.
You can be vaccinated after having a COVID-19 infection once you have recovered and are out of quarantine. However, if you received monoclonal antibodies as treatment for your COVID-19 illness, you must wait 90 days after recovering to receive the vaccine. This recommendation comes from the Centers for Disease Control. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins made in a laboratory that mimic your body’s immune response. Waiting for 90 days will help ensure the monoclonal antibodies are out of your system and that your body can develop a strong response to the vaccine.
What Are The Side Effects
Common side effects can include fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint pain, or chills, lasting about 12 to 24 hours. Having these side effects does not mean you are sick with COVID-19. Rather, they are a sign that the vaccine is doing its job: training your body to build immunity against the COVID-19 virus.
The vaccines do not contain any part of the COVID-19 virus and cannot cause that infection. Learn more about what side effects to expect and get helpful tips on how to reduce pain and discomfort after your shots.
Serious side effects (also called adverse events) after COVID-19 vaccination are rare. They can include serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and other conditions. Learn more and how the CDC monitors the safety of these vaccines.
No. The vaccines are not able to alter a person’s genetic makeup (DNA). The mRNA in the COVID-19 vaccines never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. Learn more about how mRNA works in the COVID-19 vaccines.
No. Unlike other kinds of vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines do not contain the actual virus (living or dead), so it is impossible for them to infect you with COVID. Learn more about how the COVID-19 vaccines work.
No. Tests to diagnose COVID-19, such as PCR or antigen tests done by nasal swabs or saliva samples, are checking for the presence of the virus, not immunity. Because the COVID-19 vaccines do not contain the virus, they will not affect those tests.
Tests to see if you have had COVID-19 at some point in the past, such as antibody tests, are done through blood samples. Because vaccines are designed to stimulate your body’s immune system, there is a possibility you may test positive on an antibody test. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results.
According to the CDC, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu shot, at the same visit. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, and possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines
Learn more about getting your flu shot during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What About the Vaccines for Children and Teens?
Children ages 6 months and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are authorized for use in children and adolescents:
Moderna vaccine
- For children ages 6 months to 5 years: The Moderna vaccine for children in this age group requires two doses. The doses are spaced four weeks apart. Each dose is 25 micrograms, which is one-quarter of an adult dose.
- For children age 6 to 17 years: The Moderna vaccine for children and adolescents in this age group requires two doses. The doses are spaced four weeks apart, and the dosage is the same as the dosage for adults.
Pfizer vaccine
- For children ages 6 months to 4 years: The Pfizer vaccine for children in this age group requires three doses. The first two doses are given three weeks apart, and the third dose follows at least two months later. Each dose is 3 micrograms, which is lower than the doses older children and adults receive (10 micrograms for children 5-11 and 30 micrograms for children 12 and older).
- For children ages 5 to 11 years: The Pfizer vaccine for this age group requires two doses. Each dose is 10 micrograms, which is lower than the dose individuals 12 and older receive (30 micrograms). Children ages 5 and older are eligible to receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine five months after they have completed their first two doses.
- For children ages 12 to 17: The Pfizer vaccine for this age group requires two doses, given three weeks apart. The dosage of vaccine for this age group is the same as the dosage for adults (30 micrograms). Children ages 12 and older are eligible to receive a booster dose of vaccine five months after they have completed their first two doses.
Getting your child vaccinated against COVID-19 can help protect your child and your family. Although fewer children than adults have become sick from COVID-19, they can still become infected by the virus, get sick from it and spread it to others.
Currently, vaccination is recommended for everyone age 12 years and older. The only COVID-19 vaccine approved right now for children 12 and older is the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Yes, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in children and adolescents.
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have been studied in clinical trials that focused on children ages 6 months and older.
The CDC and FDA are continuing to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines in real-world conditions, as well as in clinical trials.
Read about one family’s experience participating in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.
Read more about how the COVID-19 vaccines work and what you should know about vaccines for children younger than 5 in this information for parents from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
With both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, the main difference is the dosage. Younger children receive a lower dose of the vaccines than older children and adults.
Moderna vaccine
- For children ages 6 months to 5 years: The Moderna vaccine for children in this age group requires two doses. The doses are spaced four weeks apart. Each dose is 25 micrograms, which is one-quarter of an adult dose.
- For children age 6 to 17 years: The Moderna vaccine for children and adolescents in this age group requires two doses. The doses are spaced four weeks apart, and the dosage is the same as the dosage for adults.
Pfizer vaccine
- For children ages 6 months to 4 years: The Pfizer vaccine for children in this age group requires three doses. The first two doses are given three weeks apart, and the third dose follows at least two months later. Each dose is 3 micrograms, which is lower than the doses older children and adults receive (10 micrograms for children 5-11 and 30 micrograms for children 12 and older).
- For children ages 5 to 11 years: The Pfizer vaccine for this age group requires two doses. Each dose is 10 micrograms, which is lower than the dose individuals 12 and older receive (30 micrograms). Children ages 5 and older are eligible to receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine five months after they have completed their first two doses.
- For children ages 12 to 17: The Pfizer vaccine for this age group requires two doses, given three weeks apart. The dosage of vaccine for this age group is the same as the dosage for adults (30 micrograms). Children ages 12 and older are eligible to receive a booster dose of vaccine five months after they have completed their first two doses.
The side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine in children are similar to those in adults. They are generally mild to moderate and include soreness in the arm where the injection was given, redness and swelling, fatigue, headache, muscle and/or joint pain, chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, and decreased appetite. In clinical trials, more children reported side effects after the second dose than after the first. Most side effects occurred within two days after vaccination and went away within one to two days.
Cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the heart’s outer lining) have been reported among adolescents and young adults who have received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. There were no cases of myocarditis or pericarditis among the 5- to 11-year-old study population. Reports of these conditions are rare, and the FDA and CDC have determined that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks of not being vaccinated. Learn more about these conditions.
No, your child cannot get COVID-19 from the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or any other COVID-19 vaccine.
No. The vaccines cannot alter a person’s genetic makeup (DNA). The mRNA in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. Learn more about how mRNA works in the COVID-19 vaccines.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), there is currently no evidence that shows that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems (problems trying to get pregnant) in women or men. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone 5 years of age or older, including people who are trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future, as well as their partners. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination and fertility.
Yes, it is recommended that anyone who has been sick with COVID also get a COVID-19 vaccine. It is possible to get COVID-19 more than once, and we still do not know how long a person is protected by natural immunity after they have recovered from COVID-19.
Your child may get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines — including the flu vaccine — at the same visit or without waiting 14 days between vaccines. According to the CDC, experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection (also called immune response) after getting vaccinated and possible side effects of vaccines are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.
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