Updated COVID-19 Vaccines
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available for the 2023-2024 season and are designed to protect against newer COVID-19 variants.
The updated Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are the only two updated COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available in the U.S.
Urban Health Plan health centers offer the updated Moderna vaccine.
Who should get the COVID vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Healthy people can also become very sick from COVID-19.
The vaccine is more likely to be lifesaving for people who:
- Are 65 or older
- Are pregnant
- Have an underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk for severe outcomes
- Have certain disabilities that may increase their risk for having underlying health conditions
Vaccination can help reduce the duration and severity of COVID-19 symptoms if you become infected, and it reduces the risk of long COVID.
If you got the bivalent COVID booster, when should you get the updated COVID vaccine?
If you recently received the bivalent COVID booster, you should get the 2023-24 version of the COVID vaccine a minimum of 2 months after any previous dose of the COVID vaccine.
Updated COVID Vaccines and Schedules
The updated Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are the only two updated COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available in the US.
The CDC recommends the updated Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older. The prior Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are no longer available.
People 5 years and older
People ages 5 years and older must receive one updated vaccine dose to be considered up to date.
- If you previously received one or more COVID-19 vaccine dose, get one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna updated vaccine — it does not matter which brand.
- If you are 65 or older or immunocompromised, you may need additional doses for better protection.
- The updated vaccine can be administered two months after your last dose.
If you recently had COVID-19, you can consider waiting three months before getting your next vaccine dose. You may want to get vaccinated sooner than three months if you are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or getting it again. Talk to your provider about when you should get your next vaccine.
Children younger than 5 years
Children younger than age 5 still need multiple doses of vaccines. The vaccines for this age group have been updated with the new formula but are a lower dose than for older people.
Children who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine should follow this schedule:
Updated Moderna Vaccine
- Ages: 6 months to 4 years
- Doses: Two (children who are immunocompromised should get three doses)
- Schedule: Second dose given at least 28 days after the first
- Children ages 6 months through 4 years who have already received one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine should receive the updated vaccine. The number of updated doses they need will depend on the vaccine and their vaccination history. Ask your child’s provider how many doses they need.
