The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended booster doses for most people 5 and older.

The CDC recommends people 5 and older receive an age-appropriate, updated mRNA booster dose if at least 2 months have passed since their primary series or since their most recent booster dose. Updated boosters of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna contain a bivalent formula that both boosts immunity against the original coronavirus strain and also protects against the newer Omicron variants that now cause most cases.

Booster shots are not available for children under 5. The monovalent Novavax booster and the Johnson & Johnson primary and booster vaccinations are authorized for people 18 and older in limited situations.

See additional recommendations for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.