What you need to know
- Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine is now available and recommended for everyone 12 and older.
- Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine is different from Pfizer’s and Moderna’s updated vaccines, but all three vaccines are safe and effective at protecting us against the virus.
- Updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are now available at pharmacies. Visit Vaccines.gov to find an appointment near you.
On October 3, the FDA approved Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 12 and older, and appointments are available now. Novavax’s vaccine is different from Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines because it uses a coronavirus protein to prompt an immune response against COVID-19. Pfizer and Moderna use mRNA technology to teach cells how to prompt an immune response against COVID-19. All three vaccines are safe and effective at protecting us against the virus.
Read on to find out more about Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine: Who is eligible, where you can get it, and more.
Where is the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine available, and how much does it cost?
Pharmacies nationwide are currently offering appointments to get Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine. Visit Vaccines.gov to find pharmacies offering the vaccine near you.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are free for insured adults and children as long as they get the shot from an in-network provider. Under- and uninsured adults can get any updated COVID-19 vaccine for free through the CDC’s Bridge Access Program. Under- and uninsured children can get their updated COVID-19 vaccine for free through the CDC’s Vaccines for Children program. Visit Vaccines.gov to find locations that offer the updated COVID-19 vaccines.
Can you get Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine now if you previously received a vaccine from another manufacturer (and vice versa)?
The CDC says people 12 and older who previously received COVID-19 vaccines from other manufacturers are eligible for 1 dose of Novavax’s, Pfizer’s, or Moderna’s updated COVID-19 vaccine. People 12 and older who previously received a Novavax vaccine alone or in combination with any other brand can receive any of the three updated COVID-19 vaccines available.
Is Novavax’s vaccine as safe and effective as mRNA vaccines?
Yes. Even though Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine uses a different technology than Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines, all three vaccines are safe and effective at protecting us from the virus. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccination reduces your risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. The CDC says getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine is a safer and more reliable way to build protection against COVID-19 than getting sick from the virus. The CDC recommends Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 12 and older.
This article is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to the CDC Foundation totaling $69,392,486 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. In addition, the CDC Foundation does not guarantee and is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of information or content contained in this article. Moreover, the CDC Foundation expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within this article. This article are not intended as, and should not be interpreted by you as, constituting or implying the CDC Foundation’s endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation of the information, products, or services found therein.