What is the current recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination?

CDC recommends that all people receive an updated (2023–2024 Formula) COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months after their most recent previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine, as authorized or approved by FDA. There are three options: Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine (both FDA-authorized beginning at age 6 months and FDA-licensed for age 12 years and older), or Novavax adjuvanted protein subunit vaccine (authorized for age 12 years or older). Most people age 5 years and older should receive a single dose of vaccine.

Certain people need, or have the option to receive, more than one 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose:

• All previously unvaccinated individuals age 12 years or older receiving Novavax vaccine should receive two doses separated by at least 3 weeks.
• Children younger than age 5 years are recommended to receive at least one updated 2023–2024 Formula mRNA vaccine dose. If not previously vaccinated, or incompletely vaccinated, they should complete a 2-dose (Moderna) or 3-dose (Pfizer-BioNTech) primary series, using the same brand for all doses. CDC recommends that children younger than age 5 years receive the same brand for all doses (also referred to as homologous doses), even after completing the primary series. If it is not feasible to administer the same brand for one of the following reasons, it is acceptable to use a different brand: the brand is unavailable at the clinic at the time of the vaccination visit; the previous brand is unknown; the child would not otherwise receive a recommended vaccine; or, the child cannot continue with the previous brand due to a contraindication.
• Individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised and who have not already completed a 3-dose primary series, should complete a 3-dose primary vaccination series with the updated 2023–2024 Formula. Use the same brand for all doses of the primary series, unless the brand is unavailable at the time of the clinic visit, the patient would otherwise choose not to complete the series, or the patient has a contraindication to vaccination with the original product. If the primary series is already complete, then a single dose of any age-appropriate updated (2023–2024 Formula) COVID-19 vaccine should be administered at least 2 months after the most recent dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Additional doses may be given, spaced at least 2 months apart, as determined by these individuals with their clinical teams.

For details, see CDC’s current recommended COVID-19 vaccination schedule for all people age 6 months and older here: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/COVID-19-immunization-schedule-ages-6months-older.pdf.