Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines

In August, the FDA approved updated COVID-19 vaccines with some restrictions:

• People 65 and older, and younger people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID, are eligible to receive the vaccines.
• People under 65 without known health conditions are not currently eligible under FDA approval but may be able to get the vaccine after consulting with their health care provider.
• Some people may need a prescription from their health care provider before receiving the vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines are updated regularly to protect against the variants that are in circulation.

Currently, updated COVID-19 vaccines are available from Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax. 

The updated Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are mRNA vaccines (similar to their prior COVID-19 vaccines) that use tiny parts called messenger RNA (mRNA) carried in very tiny lipid particles. The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines differ in the way the mRNA is built or the way the lipids are used. The updated Moderna and Pfizer vaccines include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the circulating variant of SARS-CoV-2. 

The updated Novavax vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine, which injects a small piece of the COVID-19 virus to stimulate your immune system. Your body then produces antibodies so it can better fight off the virus if you become infected in the future. 

In August 2025, the FDA approved: 

• Moderna vaccine for children 6 months and older with known health conditions that place them at high risk for severe illness from COVID and people over 65.
• Pfizer vaccine for people 5 and older with known health conditions that place them at high risk for severe illness from COVID and people over 65.
• Novavax vaccine for people 12 and older with known health conditions that place them at high risk for severe illness from COVID and people over 65.

Some people may require a prescription from their health care provider before getting an updated COVID vaccine. Please check with your local pharmacy to see if you need a prescription.

All of the available COVID vaccines have shown similar efficacy in studies.

For adults, Moderna and Pfizer are a single dose. 

For children 5 years old and younger, Moderna is a two-dose series and Pfizer is a three-dose series. For children 12 to 17 years old, Novavax is a single dose for children who have previously received the COVID vaccine. 

For moderately or severely immunocompromised children and adults, additional doses may be recommended, and people who fall into these categories should discuss COVID-19 dosing with their primary care provider. 

Yes, the updated COVID vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax are FDA-approved with some restrictions: 

• Moderna vaccine is approved for children 6 months and older with known health conditions that place them at high risk for severe illness from COVID and people over 65.
• Pfizer vaccine is approved for people 5 and older with known health conditions that place them at high risk for severe illness from COVID and people over 65.
• Novavax vaccine is approved for people 12 and older with known health conditions that place them at high risk for severe illness from COVID and people over 65.

Some pharmacies may require a prescription from a health care provider before giving an updated COVID vaccine. Please check with your local pharmacy to see if you need a prescription. 

Yes, please let your care team know if you get an updated dose of the vaccine, so we have an accurate report of your vaccination status in your health records.

Yes, it is safe to get the updated COVID vaccine when pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and other pregnancy experts strongly recommend that pregnant and lactating people get vaccinated against COVID-19, including the updated 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine. ACOG recommends that the vaccine is given at the earliest opportunity to maximize maternal and fetal health.

Vaccination during pregnancy may help transfer protective antibodies to the baby through the placenta and breastmilk. These antibodies may lower the chance of the baby getting COVID-19 infection. If you are pregnant, we recommend discussing all vaccines with your primary care provider and obstetrician. 

We think that having COVID-19 may protect you from getting it again, but we are unsure for how long, especially as the virus changes and new variants circulate. Some people have had COVID more than once. 

It is recommended that people who have had COVID still get the updated vaccine to prevent against additional infection and short- and long-term effects of infection. 

The length of time that the updated vaccine’s protection lasts is being researched and likely will also depend on how the virus changes in the future. Additional updated vaccines may be recommended in future years as our immunity wanes over time and new strains of the virus circulate. 

Some local pharmacies are offering updated COVID vaccines. Please check with your local pharmacy for availability and information about whether you need a prescription. 

Select ambulatory Penn Medicine locations will administer the updated COVID-19 vaccine. 

Yes. Prior COVID vaccination is not an eligibility requirement. 

 In May 2025, The American Academy of Pediatrics’ vaccine schedule recommended: 

• Children 6 months to 23 months old receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine to reduce their chance of developing serious illness.  
• Healthy children 2 to 18 can receive and should be offered the vaccine if they were not immunized before.  
• If you have questions about your child getting the COVID vaccine, please talk with their pediatrician. 

Select ambulatory Penn Medicine locations will administer the updated COVID-19 vaccine. 

No. There is not a required observation period after you are vaccinated 

In general, it’s recommended to wait at least three months after a COVID-19 infection before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine dose. Timing decisions may vary for people who are severely immunocompromised or have other medical issues, and in these instances, a discussion with your health care provider is recommended.

Yes, and we recommend that you get them in different arms.

Currently, most experts recommend two weeks’ separation between receiving the flu and COVID vaccines and the RSV vaccine, which is recommended for people 60 or older and certain immunocompromised individuals.

At this time, there are no data—and therefore no formal guidelines—around ideal timing for getting these two sets of vaccines.

The Pfizer RSV vaccine will be offered through certain Penn Medicine practices, and both the Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline RSV vaccines will be available at retail pharmacies for all eligible adults.

No, the COVID vaccine cards are no longer being provided and rarely requested. You can take a photo or download a copy of your vaccine record from your MyChart by myPennMedicine or MyLGHealth account.