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The best protection against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated.
Adults 65 and older who have no immune problems should receive:
For people who are immunocompromised, age and vaccine history determine which COVID-19 vaccine to get and the number of doses needed.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. Some people who get COVID-19 might only feel a little sick, but others can get very sick or even die. This is especially true for older adults or people with chronic health conditions. One in 100 older Americans have died from COVID-19 disease. 75% of all COVID-19 deaths in the United States have been among adults 65 years or older.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you should get the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. There are many reasons why getting the vaccine is important:
People who have weakened immune systems or take medicines that affect their immune system are at higher risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19. It is very important for these people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. It is also important to know that you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. Vaccines do not cause infection from viruses, and they don’t change our DNA or genes.
There are different vaccine recommendations for older adults who have a weakened immune system. A person is considered immunocompromised when their immune system is not working as well as it should. People with a weak immune system may have a harder time fighting off COVID-19 and are at a higher risk of getting very sick or even dying from it. You might have a weak immune system if you have conditions like cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. These are just a few examples of health problems that can weaken your immune system. You should talk to your health care professional to find out if you have a condition that weakens your immune system.
| Previous COVID-19 vaccination history | 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine | Number of 2024-2025 vaccine doses to receive | Dosing schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| If you have never received a COVID-19 vaccine before | Moderna |
3 |
2nd dose: 4 weeks after 1st dose 3rd dose: At least 4 weeks after 2nd dose |
| Pfizer-BioNTech |
3 |
2nd dose: 3 weeks after 1st dose 3rd dose: At least 4 weeks after 2nd dose |
|
| Novavax |
2 |
2nd dose: 3 weeks after 1st dose | |
| Previously received 1 dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine | Moderna | 2 |
2nd dose: 4 weeks after 1st dose 3rd dose: At least 4 weeks after 2nd dose |
| Previously received 1 dose of the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine | Pfizer- BioNTech | 2 |
2nd dose: 3 weeks after 1st dose 3rd dose: At least 4 weeks after 2nd dose |
| Previously received 1 dose of the Novavax vaccine | Novavax |
1 |
2nd dose: 3 weeks after 1st dose |
| Previously received 2 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine | Moderna | 1 | Dose 1: at least 4 weeks after the last dose |
| Previously received 2 doses of the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine | Pfizer- BioNTech | 1 | 3rd dose: At least 4 weeks after 2nd dose |
| Previously received 3 or more doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, NOT including any dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine | Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Novavax | 1 | At least 8 weeks after last dose |
| Previously received 2 or more doses of Novavax, NOT including any dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine | Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Novavax | 1 | At least 8 weeks after last dose |
The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are mRNA vaccines. The mRNA in the vaccine teaches our cells how to trigger the immune response against the COVID-19 virus. That way, if you encounter the COVID-19 virus after receiving the vaccine, your body will recognize the virus and fight it off. mRNA vaccines have been safely used for decades.
Novavax is a protein subunit vaccine. This means that it contains proteins of the virus that causes COVID-19. From this vaccine, your immune system learns how to respond to the protein in the vaccine so it can respond to the actual virus and protect you against COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has no preference for which vaccine you should receive. The vaccines work differently from each other but they all provide protection from the COVID-19 virus.
Safety has been key in developing and approving COVID-19 vaccines. There were many steps taken to make sure the COVID-19 vaccines are safe:
The CDC and other partners assess the effectiveness and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines under real-world conditions after FDA approval.
The FDA fact sheets for the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax 2024-2025 vaccines have more information about the benefits and risks of each vaccine. We recommend that you discuss the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated with your primary care clinician or vaccine provider before getting the shots
Tell your vaccination provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
They will discuss any other factors you need to know before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine based on your unique circumstances.
FDA-approved vaccines are currently available at no cost to you:
Vaccines are available at many locations:
Find a COVID-19 vaccine location near you:
Last Updated November 2024
The AGS Older Adults Vaccine Initiative is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. In this initiative, AGS leverages existing resources and ongoing investments in content and technology.
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