A Boost in the Fight Against COVID-19
A Boost in the Fight
Overview
Update: New Yorkers 5 years and older are eligible for the updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters at least two months after their previous booster or primary vaccine series.
A bivalent COVID-19 booster will help eligible New Yorkers maximize their protection, prolong the vaccine’s durability, and safeguard our communities against the virus.
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend individuals get vaccinated and stay up to date with all recommend doses.
Booster doses are free and available statewide. If you have questions, talk to your healthcare provider, your child’s healthcare provider, or vaccine administrator.
Booster Shots
Eligibility
Use the CDC’s online tool to find out when you can get your booster.
The following New Yorkers are eligible for booster doses:
Bivalent Booster Dose
- New Yorkers ages 5 and older are eligible for a Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster dose at least 2 months after their previous booster dose or 2 months after completing their initial primary vaccine series.
- New Yorkers ages 6 and older are eligible for a Moderna bivalent booster dose at least 2 months after their previous booster dose or 2 months after completing their initial primary vaccine series.
Additional Dose (Third Dose) for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised New Yorkers
- New Yorkers ages 6 months through 4 years old who are moderately – severely immunocompromised and received Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can receive an additional (third dose) of vaccine at least 4 weeks after their second dose
- New Yorkers ages 5 years of age and older old who are moderately – severely immunocompromised and received either Moderna or Pfizer, can receive an additional (third dose) at least 4 weeks after their second dose.
- New Yorkers ages 18 years of age and older who are moderately – severely immunocompromised and received a Janssen dose, can receive an addition (second dose) of a mRNA vaccine at least 4 weeks after their last dose.
Initial Booster Dose (Fourth Dose) for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised New Yorkers
- Moderately to severely immunocompromised 5 - 11 year-olds who received their Pfizer-BioNTech additional dose (third dose) at least three months ago are eligible for a Pfizer-BioNTech monovalent booster dose (fourth dose).
- Moderately to severely immunocompromised 12 years and older who received their Pfizer-BioNTech additional dose (third dose) at least 2 months ago are eligible for a bivalent booster dose (fourth dose) of an FDA-approved or FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine. Persons 12 years and older can receive the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 booster dose, and persons 18 years and older can receive the Moderna bivalent COVID-19 booster dose.
- Moderately to severely immunocompromised 18 years and older who received their Moderna additional dose (third dose) at least 2 months ago are eligible for a bivalent booster dose (fourth dose) of an FDA-approved or FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
- Moderately to severely immunocompromised 18 years and older who received an additional dose following a Janssen series (second dose) at least two months ago are eligible for a bivalent booster dose (third dose) of an FDA-approve or FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
Schedule Your Booster
Text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you
Free booster doses are widely available at pharmacies, local health departments, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and other locations across New York State.
Immunocompromised New Yorkers
Moderately to severely immunocompromised people should receive an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine - and a booster - when eligible. Find out what conditions make New Yorkers eligible for an additional dose and boosters.
Why are Booster Shots Recommended for Eligible Individuals?
Many vaccines require more than one or two doses for long-lasting protection.
Polio
The life-saving polio vaccine requires four doses.
Tetanus
Other vaccines require occasional “boosts” including the tetanus vaccine, given every ten years.
The Flu
The influenza (flu) vaccine is recommended for individuals each year because of new strains emerging every season.