Stay Up to Date With COVID-19 Vaccines, Including Boosters

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Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines have lower risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 than people who are unvaccinated or have not completed the recommended doses. 


For 2023-2024, there are three COVID-19 vaccines that the CDC recommends for use in the United States:

  • Pfizer-BioNTech
  • Moderna
  • Novavax

Older adults can follow this guidance to be considered “up to date”:
 


If you have gotten previous COVID-19 vaccine(s)

The CDC recommends:

  • One updated Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
     

If you have not previously been vaccinated

The CDC recommends:

  • One updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, OR 
  • Two doses of updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine


If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised

You may get additional doses of updated COVID-19 vaccines. Talk to your health care provider about whether additional doses are right for you.


If you’ve recently had COVID-19

Reinfection is less likely in the weeks to months after infection. You may consider delaying your vaccine by 3 months.
However, there may be reasons to get your vaccine sooner, such as your personal risk of severe disease, the risk of disease in a close contact, and the COVID-19 hospital admission levels in your area.


How to get a booster

You can receive a booster through your health care provider, a vaccine clinic, or participating pharmacies. Visit vaccines.gov to find a nearby pharmacy or vaccine clinic.


As a Tufts Health Plan Medicare Advantage member, you pay $0 copay for COVID-19 vaccines.


The CDC updates COVID-19 vaccine recommendations as needed. For more information, visit cdc.gov.