COVID-19: Vaccine

Older man and woman pose side by side. Text reads: We vax because we're both over 65 and at increased risk.

Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Are Available

Updated COVID-19 vaccines that are formulated to protect against currently circulating variants are now available. The NYC Vaccine Finder is updated with locations where you can get the vaccines. Additional locations, including for people who are uninsured, will be added on a rolling basis.

This year’s vaccine is formulated to provide good protection against currently circulating variants. Immunity to COVID-19 wanes over time, so getting the updated vaccine can give you the highest protection. COVID-19 vaccines have been safely administered to hundreds of millions of people in the U.S. The vaccines continue to be the best way to protect yourself from severe illness from COVID-19 and other health complications, like Long COVID.

COVID-19 Vaccines Recommended for Everyone 6 Months and Older

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get a COVID-19 vaccine this season.

While anyone can become very sick from COVID-19, the vaccine is especially lifesaving for people who:

Are 65 or older
Are pregnant
Have an underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk for severe outcomes
Have certain disabilities that may increase their risk for having underlying health conditions

Vaccination can help reduce the duration and severity of COVID-19 symptoms if you become infected, and it reduces the risk of long COVID for adults and children.

COVID-19 vaccines remain our best protection against COVID-19. Even healthy people can become very sick from COVID-19 and should be vaccinated.

If you get COVID-19, vaccines reduce your risk of long-term health effects, including long COVID. Even people who have had COVID-19 should get vaccinated.

The vaccines now available from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are designed to protect against newer variants. In studies, they were shown to be effective against current circulating variants. They also help strengthen your protection against the virus, which is important as protection lessens over time.

Everyone should stay up to date with their vaccines. For most people, that means getting just one updated 2023-2024 vaccine dose.

Vaccines and Schedules

Three updated vaccines are available in the US: Pfizer (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax), and Novavax. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available for people ages 6 months and older, and the Novavax vaccine for people ages 12 and older.

The CDC recommends an updated vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older. The prior versions of the Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax vaccines are no longer available.

People 5 years and older

Most people ages 5 years and older need just one updated vaccine dose to be considered up to date.

If you previously received one or more COVID-19 vaccine dose, get one dose of the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax updated vaccine — it does not matter which brand. However, Novavax is only available for ages 12 and older.
If you never received a COVID-19 vaccine dose, get either one dose of the updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two doses (three weeks apart) of the updated Novavax vaccine.
If you are 65 or older or immunocompromised, you may need additional doses for better protection.
The updated vaccine can be administered two months after your last dose.

If you recently had COVID-19, you can consider waiting three months before getting your next vaccine dose. You may want to get vaccinated sooner than three months if you are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or getting it again. Talk to your provider about when you should get your next vaccine.

Children Younger than 5

Children younger than age 5 still need multiple doses of vaccines. The vaccines for this age group have been updated with the new formula, but are a lower dose than for older people. Only the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available for this age group.

Children who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine should follow this schedule:

Updated Pfizer Vaccine

Ages: 6 months to 4 years
Doses: Three
Schedule: Second dose given at least 21 days after the first, and the third dose given at least 56 days after the second.

Updated Moderna Vaccine

Ages: 6 months to 4 years
Doses: Two (children who are immunocompromised should get three doses)
Schedule: Second dose given at least 28 days after the first

Children ages 6 months through 4 years who have already received one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine should receive the updated vaccine. The number of updated doses they need will depend on the vaccine and their vaccination history. Ask your child’s provider how many doses they need.

A parent or guardian must provide consent for their child to be vaccinated. Consent can be given in person, by phone or in writing, depending on the vaccination site.

Additional Doses for People With a Weakened Immune System

People who have a weakened immune system — such as those being treated for cancer or who have had an organ transplant — can get additional doses as long as they are given at least two months apart.

People who have a weakened immune system and received previous COVID-19 vaccines should get at least one updated vaccine dose. They can get additional updated doses at least two months after the last updated vaccine dose if recommended by their provider.

People who have a weakened immune system and have never received a COVID-19 vaccine should get three vaccine doses as part of their initial vaccine series. They can then get additional doses, as noted above.