Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to receive an initial primary vaccination series. Some people are recommended to receive additional primary series doses and boosters.
Primary series vaccine schedule by age
Pfizer
- 6 months through 4 years - three doses total; second dose received at least 21 days after the first, and third dose received at least eight weeks after the second dose.
- 5 years and older - two doses received at least 21 days apart
Moderna
- 6 months and older - two doses received at least 28 days apart
Novavax
- 12 and older - two doses received at least 21 days apart
Johnson & Johnson (J&J)
- 18 and older - single-dose recommended only for adults who cannot receive one of the other vaccines.
Boosters
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 5 and older who has completed a primary series of monovalent (original) COVID-19 vaccine get an updated bivalent booster dose at least two months after their most recent monovalent dose. This includes people who are immunocompromised and therefore received a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna.
The original monovalent mRNA vaccines are still used for the primary vaccination series but are no longer authorized for booster doses. Only the updated bivalent mRNA vaccines are available as boosters for persons 5 years of age and older. The updated booster doses contain mRNA components that target both the original strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 and the BA.4/BA.5 Omicron variant strains.
Proof of eligibility is not required, though providers may ask for confirmation of your last dose. People can get a booster dose at most locations that provide COVID-19 vaccines. Visit getvaccinated.oregon.gov to find a booster dose near you. The new recommendations for booster doses are outlined below. You can also visit the CDC’s web site and click on “Find Out When to Get a Booster” to learn whether and which booster you are recommended to get.
Is a booster recommended for the vaccine you received?
Pfizer and Moderna
Everyone age 5 and older who received a primary COVID-19 vaccine series is recommended to receive a single dose of an updated bivalent booster dose; persons 5 years of age must receive the bivalent Pfizer vaccine, and persons 6 and older may receive either the Pfizer or the Moderna bivalent vaccine. The bivalent booster should be given at least two months after completion of the primary vaccination series or at least two months after receipt of the most recent booster dose of a monovalent vaccine. Children ages 6 months through 4 years who received either vaccine are not recommended to receive a booster dose at this time.
Novavax
A single dose of an updated mRNA bivalent booster dose (Pfizer or Moderna) is recommended at least two months after completing the Novavax primary vaccination series. Children ages 12-17 are only eligible to receive Pfizer.
Johnson & Johnson
The CDC recommends everyone 18 and older receive an updated bivalent mRNA booster dose at least two months after their initial Johnson & Johnson dose or at least two months after their most recent booster dose of any vaccine.
Booster doses are widely available through pharmacies, doctor's offices and clinics, as COVID-19 vaccine is today. Please do not go to a hospital to get a booster shot. Contact your community health center or doctor's office to get your booster there. Or use our vaccine locator to find a vaccine provider near you. You may need to make an appointment. But don't worry – your current vaccination still offers strong protection against serious COVID-19 illness.
Vaccines.govBoosters and additional doses for immunocompromised people
An additional dose as a part of the primary vaccination series is recommended for people ages 6 months and up who are immunocompromised and received Moderna, for those ages 5 and older who are immunocompromised and received Pfizer and for those aged 18 and older who received Johnson & Johnson.
Is an additional dose recommended for the vaccine you received?
Pfizer and Moderna
Moderna: A third dose of the monovalent (original) Moderna vaccine is recommended for immunocompromised people ages 6 months and older at least 28 days after the second dose. This additional dose is a part of the primary vaccine series. Immunocompromised people 6 and older should receive a booster dose of an updated bivalent mRNA vaccine at least two months after their additional dose or at least two months after their most recent monovalent (original vaccine) booster dose. Moderna booster doses for immunocompromised children less than 6 years old are not currently recommended. Children age 5 may receive a Pfizer updated bivalent mRNA booster dose.
Pfizer: A third dose of the monovalent (original) Pfizer vaccine is recommended for immunocompromised people ages 5 and older at least 28 days after the second dose. This additional dose is a part of the primary vaccine series. People 5 and older should receive aan updated bivalent mRNA vaccine booster at least two months after completing their primary vaccination series or at least two months after their most recent booster dose. Booster doses for immunocompromised children less than 5 years old are not recommended at this time.
Novavax
Additional doses for immunocompromised persons are currently not recommended for Novavax vaccine recipients. People 12 and older who received Novavax are recommended to receive an updated mRNA bivalent booster dose (Pfizer or Moderna) at least two months after completing their Novavax primary vaccine series.
Johnson & Johnson
For people ages 18 and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and who received Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine, a second dose of one of the original monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna or Pfizer) is recommended at least 28 days after the first dose.
Everyone who received a Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine is advised to get a single booster dose of an updated bivalent mRNA vaccine (Pfizer of Moderna) at least two months after completing their primary vaccination series or at least two months after their most recent booster dose.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine An additional dose of Pfizer for children 6 months through 4 years old is not recommended at this time.
This includes people who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
People should talk to their health care provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
Third doses are available anywhere COVID-19 vaccines are offered, including through pharmacies, doctor's offices and clinics. Please do not go to a hospital to get a third dose. Contact your community health center or doctor's office to get your third dose there; or use our vaccine locator to find a vaccine provider near you. You may need to make an appointment.
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