Vaccinate All 58

Keep our immunity strong with the updated COVID-19 booster, now eligible for everyone 12 years+.

Staying current on COVID-19 vaccines, including primary series and booster doses, protects against the worst outcomes of COVID-19 for many months following vaccination. The FDA authorized the updated booster after reviewing data showing the booster improved protection against currently circulating variants.

Get your questions answered and book your appointment today. Check with your medical care provider or local clinic for an updated booster appointment, or see if appointments are available at Vaccines.gov or MyTurn.gov.

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Check out myturn.ca.gov

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Check out myturn.ca.gov

Vaccines for Infants, Toddlers, and Children

In California, it is recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get a COVID-19 vaccine, and everyone aged 5 and older get a booster dose when eligible, to help protect against severe outcomes of COVID-19. Vaccinating children can help protect family members who are at higher risk for getting sick. Vaccination can help keep kids in school and safely participating in group activities. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been authorized for children aged 6 months and older. COVID-19 vaccine dosage varies by the age of the child on the day their vaccine dose.

Pfizer

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children contains the same active ingredients as the vaccine given to people aged 12 and older.
Youth aged 12 and older receive the same dose as adults.
Children aged 5 – 11 receive a lower dose than those 12 and older.
Infants and toddlers aged 6 months – 4 years receive a lower dose than children aged 5 – 11.

Moderna

The Moderna vaccine for children contains the same active ingredients as the vaccine given to people aged 18 and older.
Youth aged 12 – 17 receive the same dose as those aged 18 and older.
Youth aged 6 – 11 receive a lower dose than those aged 12 – 17.
Infants and toddlers aged 6 months – 5 years receive a lower dose than children aged 6 – 11.

The COVID-19 vaccine has been proven safe and effective for children based on data from clinical trials. All COVID-19 vaccines continue to be rigorously monitored.

People have rarely experienced severe health effects after COVID-19 vaccination.
Children may experience side effects like pain and swelling where the shot was given, or headache, fatigue, and fever. These symptoms should go away in a few days.

Timing of Primary Series Dose(s)

Pfizer-BioNTech 3-dose series

Ages 6 months – 4 years
- 2nd dose given at least 3 weeks after the first dose
- 3rd dose given at least 8 weeks after the 2nd dose
Ages 5+
- 2 doses given at least 3 weeks apart

Moderna 2-dose series

Ages 6 months+
- 2 doses given at least 4 weeks apart

J&J/Janssen*

Ages 18+
1 dose

*CDPH recommends people receive a mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) over Johnson and Johnson. ** Based on CDC and FDA guidance, use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 (J&J) vaccine is limited to people aged 18 and older who cannot receive other COVID-19 vaccines due to medical reasons, have limited access to the other vaccines, or who elect to receive the J&J because they would otherwise not receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Boosters

Everyone aged 5 and older is eligible to receive a booster dose. Everyone 12+ who has had their primary series should get the updated booster at least 2 months following any COVID vaccine or booster dose.

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna

Those aged 5-11 years should receive a booster (monovalent) dose of Pfizer-BioNTech, at least five months following the completion of their primary series.
Those aged 12-17 years should receive the Updated Booster (bivalent) dose of Pfizer-BioNTech, at least two months after receiving their last dose, regardless of type (primary series or booster).
Those ages 18 years+ should receive the Updated Booster (bivalent) dose, at least two months after receiving their last dose, regardless of type (primary series or booster).

Get your questions answered and book your appointment today. Check with your medical care provider or local clinic for an updated booster appointment, or find a vaccine near you.

Find your closest vaccination site

Use My Turn to find walk-up sites in your area.

Find Vaccines

Book a vaccine appointment

If you'd rather schedule your vaccine, find a convenient time on My Turn and book your appointment.

Book your vaccination

For help making it happen, call (833) 422-4255

You can also check with your healthcare provider or stop by your local pharmacy.

Pregnancy and Fertility

Evidence continues to build that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is safe and effective. The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccine for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or could become pregnant in the future. There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems. Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 than non-pregnant people. Research continues to show that getting COVID-19 during pregnancy increases the risk of complications that can affect your pregnancy and developing baby, including newborn mortality, such as preterm or stillborn infant. Talk to your doctors if you feel hesitant about getting vaccinated against COVID-19 to learn the medical and scientific facts.

Questions & Answers

- Research continues to show that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from all variants.
- Getting vaccinated is much, much safer than the risks of getting sick with COVID-19. Unvaccinated people are at much higher risk of getting infected, becoming hospitalized, and dying from COVID-19 than people who have received their primary series and booster dose, when eligible.
- If the available appointment times on My Turn aren’t convenient for you, you can use VaccineFinder to see more in your area—or skip the scheduling altogether. Hundreds of vaccination sites accept walk-ins, and the list keeps growing. You can also check with your medical provider to see if they offer COVID-19 vaccinations.
- The vaccine will be given to you as a shot in your upper arm.
- After vaccination, you'll be monitored on-site for 15 minutes to make sure you don't have a reaction.
- Once vaccinated, you'll get a card that tells you what COVID-19 vaccine you got, the date you got it, and where you got it. Bring your vaccination card to your second appointment (if you need two shots) as well as your booster appointment. Keep it in a safe place, as proof of vaccination may be required in certain settings.
- Ask your vaccination provider about getting started with v-safe, a free, smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check how you’re doing after your COVID-19 vaccination.
- If you haven’t already done so, make an appointment to get your booster dose. Californians aged 12 and above are eligible for a booster. For those that received J&J you can receive a booster two months after your first dose. If you received Pfizer or Moderna for your primary series you can receive a booster five months after your second dose. Boosters increase a person’s immunity almost immediately.
- Wear a mask with good fit and filtration when it can protect you and others. Upgrade to a better mask if you can. A N95 provides the highest level of protection from COVID-19, KN95 or KF94 masks or double masking with a cloth mask over a surgical mask also provide great protection.
- Stay home if you are sick and get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Watch your distance in crowds, especially around our youngest children who are not yet vaccinated, those at risk and those unable to get the vaccine.

Still have questions?

Everyone deserves answers.

Visit California’s COVID-19 Vaccines webpage or call the COVID-19 Hotline at (833) 422-4255.

Share resources for your community

Share more about COVID-19 vaccines and why they’re so important. Visit the Partner Toolkit page to find images and videos you can post on social media and use in communities across California.