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 5-17

It is recommended that everyone ages 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine, and a booster when eligible, to help protect against COVID-19. Vaccinating children can help protect family members who are at increased risk for getting sick if they are infected or are not yet eligible for vaccination. Vaccination can help keep kids in school and safely participate in group activities. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been authorized for children ages 5 – 15 and approved for teens 16 – 17. COVID-19 vaccine dosage varies by age on the day of vaccination.

Youth ages 12 years and older receive the same dose as adults
Children ages 5 through 11 receive a half dose.
- The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children contains the same active ingredients as the vaccine given to adults and youth 12+.
A second shot of the vaccine should be administered three weeks after the first dose.

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 at the injection site, or headache, chills and fever. These symptoms should go away in a few days.

Individuals 12 and older who received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least 5 months ago, or 18 and older who received the second dose of the Moderna vaccine at least five months ago, or the J&J vaccine two months ago, should get their booster dose. Booster doses are not yet recommended for children ages 5 – 11.

Completing Series

You are considered fully vaccinated when it has been two weeks since you completed your primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.

Pfizer-BioNTech

Ages 5+
2 doses given at least 21 days apart
You are fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your final dose

Moderna

Ages 18+
2 doses given at least 28 days apart
You are fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your final dose

J&J/Janssen*

Ages 18 +
1 dose
You are fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your dose

*CDPH recommends people consider receiving a mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) over Johnson and Johnson.

Pregnancy and Fertility

In early August, the CDC recommended COVID-19 vaccine for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might 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. According to the CDC, pregnant people with symptomatic COVID-19 have a 70 percent increased risk of death. Talk to your doctors if you still 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.