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COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Getting your COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots and helping your loved ones get theirs is at the top of your mind. Keeping you safe and healthy is at the top of ours. We can update you on what you need to know as we come back from COVID-19.

Am I up to date on my vaccine?

You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Vaccine recommendations are based on your age, the vaccine you first received, and time since your last dose. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.

Find a COVID-19 vaccine

All Pennsylvanians age 6 months and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and dying, according to the CDC. UPMC Health Plan encourages members age 6 months and older to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine and recommended boosters.

COVID-19 vaccines encouraged by UPMC Health Plan are Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax. While the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use, the CDC recommends that it only be considered in some situations.

Updated COVID-19 boosters, or bivalent boosters, target the most recent Omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, that are more contagious and more resistant than earlier strains of Omicron. 1

Details about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters by age are below.
Accessed Dec. 27, 2022

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters: Children – 6 months to 4 years old
First dose Second dose Third dose
Pfizer-BioNTech Primary series Primary series:
3-8 weeks after first dose
Primary series:
At least 8 weeks after second dose
ModernaTX, Inc. Primary series Primary series:
4-8 weeks after first dose
Updated Bivalent Booster:
At least 2 months after 2nd Moderna dose, children aged 6 months–4 years can only get a Moderna booster, and children aged 5 years can get a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna updated booster.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters: Children – 5–11 years old
First dose Second dose Third dose
Pfizer-BioNTech Primary series Primary series:
3-8 weeks after first dose
Pfizer-BioNTech Updated Bivalent Booster:
At least 2 months after 2nd dose or last booster, children age 5 years can only get a Pfizer-BioNTech booster, and children ages 6–11 years can get a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster.
ModernaTX, Inc. Primary series Primary series:
4-8 weeks after first dose
Pfizer-BioNTech Updated Bivalent Booster:
At least 2 months after 2nd Moderna dose, children aged 5 years can get a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna updated booster.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters: Children and teens – 12 years–17 years old
First dose Second dose Third dose
Pfizer-BioNTech Primary series Primary series:
3-8 weeks after first dose
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Updated Bivalent Booster:
At least 2 months after 2nd dose or last booster
ModernaTX, Inc. Primary series Primary series:
4-8 weeks after first dose
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Updated Bivalent Booster:
At least 2 months after 2nd dose or last booster
Novavax Primary series Primary series:
3-8 weeks after first dose
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Updated Bivalent Booster:
At least 2 months after 2nd dose or last booster

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters: Adults – 18 years old and older
First dose Second dose Third dose
Pfizer-BioNTech Primary series Primary series:
3-8 weeks after first dose
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Updated Bivalent Booster
At least 2 months after 2nd dose or last booster
ModernaTX, Inc. Primary series Primary series:
4-8 weeks after first dose
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Updated Bivalent Booster:
At least 2 months after 2nd dose or last booster
Novavax Primary series Primary series:
3-8 weeks after first dose
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Updated Bivalent Booster:
At least 2 months after 2nd dose or last booster

A monovalent Novavax booster is available in limited situations
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Primary series Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Updated Bivalent Booster:
At least 2 months after 2nd primary series dose

A monovalent J&J/Janssen booster is available in limited situations.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2022.

The COVID-19 vaccine and children

We know it may be difficult to speak with your children about the COVID-19 vaccine. You and your children may have a lot of questions, and we can help you answer them.

Read our FAQ regarding children and the COVID-19 vaccine

CDC's guidelines for boosters

Keep in mind that these guidelines can change over time as we learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. For the most current information, check the CDC website.

We encourage everyone to get the vaccine and booster shots as soon as they can. COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots are covered no matter which one you get or where you get it in the United States. Use the resources below to find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster near you.

Schedule your COVID-19 vaccine

Schedule now
If you need help scheduling your COVID-19 vaccine, call a Health Care Concierge at the number on your member ID card or chat with us.

Help is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (TTY: 711)

If your child is a UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics patient, you can schedule an appointment online or by calling the office.


VaccineFinder logo

Try the CDC VaccineFinder tool

Find pharmacies and clinics near you that are offering COVID-19 vaccines.

Need help talking to your little ones about getting a vaccine?

Our neighbor Daniel Tiger can help! Use our Virtual Concierge to listen to an audio story with your child. You can hear it on Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant devices.

COVID-19 vaccine FAQ

You probably have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. We’re here to help with the answers.

View our COVID-19 vaccine FAQ

Vaccine myths

Myth: You can get COVID-19 from the COVID-19 vaccine.
Fact: None of the COVID-19 vaccines being used in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. A COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine changes your DNA.
Fact: COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine causes problems with pregnancy.
Fact: Right now, there is no evidence that the vaccine causes any problems with pregnancy. There is also no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems.
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine is not safe because it was developed quickly.
Fact: Each COVID-19 vaccine has gone through large clinical trials with thousands of participants. Each developer followed safety protocols. These included human testing and months of monitoring after the final dose. More than 250 million Americans have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The results are monitored to ensure ongoing safety.
Myth: You will feel really sick after you get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Fact: It is possible to feel side effects after you get the vaccine. This is because the vaccine is triggering an immune response in your body. Some common side effects may include pain and swelling where you got the shot. They can also include fever, chills, fatigue, and headache. These should go away in a few days.
Myth: You don’t have to take safety precautions if you are fully vaccinated.
Fact: False. You should still follow all of the current CDC guidelines in place to protect yourself and others.
Myth: You do not need to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you already had the virus.
Fact: False. You should still be vaccinated even if you already had COVID-19. Experts do not yet know how long you are protected after you recover from an active infection. It is possible to get sick again after recovering from COVID-19. If you got medical treatment for a COVID-19 infection, your provider may recommend waiting 90 days before being vaccinated. Talk to your doctor about what is right for you.