If you received your vaccination through UW Medicine, a record of your vaccination will be added automatically to our system. The best thing we can do to protect ourselves from getting very sick from COVID-19 is to: As of April 18, 2023, the FDA has authorized the use of the updated (bivalent) Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for all doses given to anyone 6 months of age and older. Boostersare now available to all patients who meet eligibility requirements. Interim COVID-19 Immunization Schedule for Ages 6 months and older, Understanding the ACIP and How Vaccine Recommendations are Made in the US, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While boosters are not required to be the same COVID-19 vaccine as the initial series, the CDC recommends individuals receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine whenever possible. Help is available in English, Spanish, and many other languages. UW Medicine continues to follow CDC and FDA guidance in recommending boosters for all who are eligible. The SARS-CoV-2 gene that creates the spike protein is inserted into a harmless virus to deliver the gene to human cells. The vaccines in use or in Phase 3 clinical trials have an efficacy ranging between 57% and 95% in preventing symptomatic infection. We follow local guidance regarding protective measures, and following CDC guidance to help stop the spread of the virus. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. These medications cannot be used for pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of COVID-19. Vaccine uptake has slowed to a crawl in the U.S. Only 16.7% of people in the US overall and less than half of people over 65 have received a bivalent booster shot, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Boosters on the other hand, are meant to address decreasing or waning vaccine effectiveness over time for people who had an expected immune response. Each COVID-19 vaccine has a different level of efficacy against milder disease. Click here to see how vaccines work in the body. How many no-cost at-home tests can one person receive? All vaccines are eligible to receive a booster dose. This piece is known as a spike protein and it is only found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19.