Schedule COVID-19 Vaccine | Walgreens (2024)

FAQs

How much time between COVID-19 vaccine doses? ›

Why was the interval changed? New data indicates that an eight-week interval between the first and second doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) may improve the immune response, increase vaccine effectiveness and increase how long the vaccines protect against infection and hospitalization.

On September 11, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to include the 2023-2024 formula. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (2023-2024 Formula) includes a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant XBB.

CDC recommends the 2023–2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines—Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax—to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. Everyone aged 5 years and older ‡ should get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.

The Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Novavax vaccines protect against many known variants of COVID-19. The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines offer immunity against COVID-19 for up to six months. To increase protection, getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine is now recommended for everyone six months and older.

All primary doses should be given at least 8 weeks apart. A person may be vaccinated 3 to 4 weeks after their last primary dose in exceptional circ*mstances.

The first two doses are administered three weeks apart. The third dose is administered at least 8 weeks after the second dose.

On April 18, 2023, the FDA announced that the original Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the U.S. Instead, the bivalent (updated) version of the vaccines will be used for all vaccine doses.

The new 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccines will come out in August and September, and health experts hope a much higher percentage of Americans will decide to get an annual COVID-19 vaccine this fall and winter than did last year since vaccines protect well against hospitalization and death.

The immune response from a COVID-19 infection usually tamps down after 3-4 months, says Kawsar Talaat, MD, a vaccinologist and associate professor in the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

You could experience soreness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, body aches, and fever.

When did the newest COVID booster come out? ›

How is the updated COVID vaccine different from the previous one? The bivalent booster, which is no longer available, was introduced in the fall of 2022. It targeted the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants and the original SARS-CoV-2 virus.

“The short answer is yes,” says Saju Mathew, M.D., a Piedmont primary care physician. “The long answer is that unless 85% of Americans get the vaccine, we are not even going to get close to ending the pandemic.”

Yancey said that for vaccines that “last a lifetime,” which include vaccines for measles or hepatitis B, the viruses themselves tend to be uniform when they replicate. “They replicate very faithfully, so if you have hepatitis B, every hepatitis B virus in your body looks identical,” Dr.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work by introducing mRNA (messenger RNA) into your muscle cells. The cells make copies of the spike protein and the mRNA is quickly degraded (within a few days).

For example, says Mallory Shillinger, D.O., a Piedmont primary care physician, vaccinated people often have “a fever for one or two days, along with fatigue, a sore throat and dry cough that can last three to five days. Also, a loss of taste and smell that can linger for two to three weeks.”

Typically, the immune response is impaired only for the second live-virus vaccine administered. Whenever possible, providers should administer injected or intranasal live-virus vaccines on different days ≥28 days apart.

A two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series is recommended for children ages 6 months through 5 years under the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The doses should be given 28-days apart.

ACIP recommends new 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines as authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for everyone 6 months of age and older. FDA recently recommended that vaccine manufacturers use the KP. 2 variant of the JN. 1 lineage, if feasible, for fall vaccines, to more closely match circulating variants.

It's not too late. “We still want you to get your second dose as soon as you can,” says Dr. Morgan. “The CDC says ideally you should get it within 42 days.