Updated Aug. 31, 2023
Available Vaccines
Three COVID-19 vaccines are currently authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
mRNA Vaccines
Protein Subunit Vaccines
How Many Doses You Need to Be Up to Date
Read the following vaccine recommendations to find out what you need to be up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines.
Everyone Ages 6 Years and Older
Get one dose of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of whether you received any original COVID-19 vaccines
People Ages 65 and Older
May get a second dose of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
Children Ages 6 Months – 5 Years
Depending on the number of doses they’ve previously received and their age, some children may need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date, including at least one dose of updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Pfizer-BioNTech
- Age 6 months – 4 years: Three (3) doses updated Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, second dose 3-8 weeks after first dose and third dose 8 weeks after second doses
- Age 5: One updated Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
- Age 6 months – 5 years: Two (2) doses updated Moderna vaccine, 4-8 weeks apart
Moderna
- Age 6 months – 5 years: Two (2) doses updated Moderna vaccine, 4-8 weeks apart
Note About Vaccination for This Age Group
Recommendations differ for children ages 6 months – 4 years who received the original Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. Learn more
People Who Want Another COVID-19 Vaccine Option
If you are age 12 years or older and cannot or do not want to get an updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you may choose to get the Novavax vaccine. Learn more
What About the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine?
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer authorized for use in the United States and all previously available vaccines have expired.
Learn more about how to Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines
Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses Reference Guide for All Ages
If You Are Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised need additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine. People with a weakened immune system may be at greater risk for severe COVID-19 illness and their immune response to the vaccine may not be as strong as in other people. Visit this page to find out exactly what you need.
What Does it Mean to be Immunocompromised?
Individuals who meet the following criteria may benefit from additional doses of the vaccines:
- Age 6 months and older
- Currently receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or blood cancers
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Have moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency such as DiGeorge syndrome or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress the immune response
Please speak with your provider about your health conditions and to determine if an additional dose is appropriate for you.
Visit the CDC website to learn more about which vaccines and how many doses you need
If You Have Had COVID-19
If you have recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying receiving your vaccine by three months from when your symptoms started or after receiving a positive test result if you had no symptoms.