COVID-19Common question

COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable. If you received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you should get the same product for your second shot. You should get your second shot even if you have side effects after the first shot, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to get it.

Are the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots the same as the first?

If you got Moderna or Pfizer for your first dose: Moderna's booster dose will be half of its original dosing, while Pfizer's booster shot is the same as the initial doses.

Can you get a different COVID-19 booster shot than what you originally received?

Yes. The F.D.A. has updated its authorizations to allow medical providers to boost people with a different vaccine than the one they initially received, a strategy known as “mix and match.” Whether you received Moderna, Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer-BioNTech, you may receive a booster of any other vaccine.

How many shots do I need with the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine?

If you receive a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you will need 2 shots to get the most protection.

Is it normal to have side effects after second COVID-19 vaccine?

Side effects after your second shot may be more intense than the ones you experienced after your first shot. These side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection and should go away within a few days.

What are the most common side effects of the Moderna and Pfizer booster shot?

The most common side effects reported after getting a third shot of an mRNA vaccine, the type made by Moderna and Pfizer, were pain at the injection site, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and fever, followed by chills and nausea.

When will my COVID-19 vaccine side effects go away?

Side effects can affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

Do you need two Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines?

If you received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you should get the same product for your second shot. You should get your second shot even if you have side effects after the first shot, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to get it.

How many doses of COVID-19 vaccine will I need to get?

The number of doses needed depends on which vaccine you receive. To get the most protection:

• Two Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses should be given 3 weeks (21 days) apart.
• Two Moderna vaccine doses should be given 1 month (28 days) apart.
• Johnson & Johnsons Jansen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine requires only one dose.

If you receive a vaccine that requires two doses, you should get your second shot as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, your second dose may be given up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose, if necessary.. You should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval.

What is the recommended interval between doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines?

The recommended interval between doses is 21 days for Pfizer-BioNTech and 28 days for Moderna; however, up to 42 days between doses is permissible when a delay is unavoidable.

Can I mix and match COVID-19 booster vaccines?

Boosters are now available for the three COVID-19 vaccines, made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has given the green light for safely mixing and matching the shots.

Whaat happens if you mix AstraZeneca and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines?

Researchers studied mixing and matching Pfizer's vaccine with AstraZeneca's, which is made using similar technology as J&J's. There, too, researchers found that people who got an AstraZeneca shot followed by Pfizer four weeks later produced more antibodies than those who received two AstraZeneca shots.

Can you get a different COVID-19 booster shot than what you originally received?

Yes. The F.D.A. has updated its authorizations to allow medical providers to boost people with a different vaccine than the one they initially received, a strategy known as “mix and match.” Whether you received Moderna, Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer-BioNTech, you may receive a booster of any other vaccine.

Are the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots the same as the first?

If you got Moderna or Pfizer for your first dose: Moderna's booster dose will be half of its original dosing, while Pfizer's booster shot is the same as the initial doses.

Is it safe to take a different COVID-19 booster shot?

The study found that boosting with a different vaccine is safe, and that boosters increased antibody levels no matter the combination.

Can you get a different COVID-19 booster shot than what you originally received?

Yes. The F.D.A. has updated its authorizations to allow medical providers to boost people with a different vaccine than the one they initially received, a strategy known as “mix and match.” Whether you received Moderna, Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer-BioNTech, you may receive a booster of any other vaccine.

When do you get the second COVID-19 vaccine?

If you receive a vaccine that requires two doses, you should get your second shot as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, your second dose may be given up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose, if necessary.. You should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval.

Can you still get COVID-19 after booster vaccine?

COVID-19 is still a risk. Getting a booster shot doesn't guarantee you won't be infected with the coronavirus. But it can help your immune system build protection against severe disease or hospitalization -- including from the delta variant.

When are you fully vaccinated after the COVID-19 shot?

Booster shots are now available to specific groups of people. However, everyone is still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a 2-shot series, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the J&J/Janssen vaccine.

Are the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots the same as the first?

If you got Moderna or Pfizer for your first dose: Moderna's booster dose will be half of its original dosing, while Pfizer's booster shot is the same as the initial doses.

Who should not get the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine?

If you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or an immediate allergic reaction, even if it was not severe, to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (such as polyethylene glycol), you should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Why should you take two COVID-19 vaccines?

If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick.

People with moderately to severely compromised immune systems should receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after the initial 2 doses.

Is it normal to feel sick after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

It is normal to feel sick after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
You may have a sore arm.
Put a cool, wet cloth on your sore arm.

What are some of the serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Rare serious adverse events have been reported after COVID-19 vaccination, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after Janssen COVID-19 vaccination and myocarditis after mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) COVID-19 vaccination.

Are there any long term effects of COVID-19 vaccine?

Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unlikely following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine monitoring has historically shown that side effects generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose.