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 oler.