COVID-19 Prevention
There are precautions you can take to prevent serious illness from COVID-19. The safe and effective vaccine is the best way to build protection.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved and authorized an updated Moderna, Pfizer 2024 COVID-19 vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness.
Adults ages 65 and older can now to receive an additional updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine dose as long as four months have passed since their last dose. Adults in this age range are at greater risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19, and an additional dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine may restore protection that has waned since a fall vaccine dose.
Please visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccination site near you.
For people with health insurance, most plans will cover COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to you. People who don't have health insurance or with health plans that do not cover the cost may get a free vaccine from their healthcare provider, local health department and pharmacies participating in the CDC's Bridge Access Program. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program also may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program.
You can also help protect yourself and others by improving ventilation and following respiratory virus guidance.
Other measures to help prevent you from breathing in virus particles include wearing a mask or increasing the space from other people. Learn more about how to protect yourself against infection.
About the Vaccine
The Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer vaccines are approved for individuals 12 years of age and older and are authorized under emergency use for individuals 6 months through 11 years of age. the bivalent vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States.
Pfizer-BioNTec, Moderna and Novavax vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The EUA process has allowed for clinical trails and manufacturing to occur simultaneously, while still allowing for rigorous testing to determine how safe and effective it is. COVID-19 vaccines are the most tested and monitored vaccines in the U.S. history.
Safety is top priority.
The first goal is to focus on the safety of the vaccine and determining how effective it is. Before any vaccine is released, it must first complete three phases of clinical trials to study its effect on thousands of diverse study participants. Once that study is done, the pharmaceutical company submits the results for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. FDA. This is a way to make important health breakthroughs available to the public quickly.
The vaccine is then reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP is a federal advisory committee of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the U.S. public.
Vaccine Information:
Vaccine Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine. Children age 6 months to 4 years need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Click here to find COVID-19 vaccine available near you or check with your healthcare provider, pharmacy or local health department. Learn more about the vaccine.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is always changing, and protection from COVID-19 vaccines declines over time. Receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine can restore protection and provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States.
Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax have each created an updated COVID-19 vaccine to target currently circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.
The CDC recommends that children age 6 months to 4 years receive multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine. See CDC COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children age 6 months to 4 years for specific guidance.
Click here to find COVID-19 vaccine available near you or check with your healthcare provider, pharmacy or local health department. Learn more about the vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19, including those who have not yet been vaccinated.
Click here to find COVID-19 vaccine available near you or check with your healthcare provider, pharmacy or local health department. Learn more about the vaccine.
The updated Novavax vaccine has been authorized by the FDA and is recommended for people 12 and older. If you have previously been vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine, you are eligible to receive one dose of Novavax vaccine (as long as you have not been vaccinated with the recently updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine). If you have not been vaccinated with any COVID-19 vaccine, you are eligible to receive two doses of Novavax vaccine. See CDC Novavax vaccine guidance for more information.
Click here to find COVID-19 vaccine available near you or check with your healthcare provider, pharmacy or local health department. Learn more about the vaccine.
Some groups are increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including older adults (especially those over age 50), people who are immunocompromised or have certain medical conditions, and pregnant or recently pregnant individuals.
Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to protect yourself and others around you from getting very sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19. The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine. If you are at increased risk for getting very sick from COVID-19, medications are available that can reduce your chances of severe illness and death. Treatment needs to be started within a few days of infection to be effective. Visit the Indiana COVID-19 Treatment page for more information and a map of sites offering treatment.
Understanding the risk of COVID-19 for yourself and those around you can help you make informed decisions to keep you safe and healthy. If you have risk factors, have a COVID-19 plan in place in case you get sick, and discuss that plan with your healthcare provider and those close to you. Learn what extra precautions you can take to protect yourself and others in settings that make you more likely to be exposed to COVID-19.
People 12 and older who have received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine can receive the updated Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. A person can receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine that is different than the COVID-19 vaccine they received for their primary series or previous booster(s).
People between the ages of 5 and 11 who have received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine can receive either updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Children age 6 months to 4 years should receive all doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the same manufacturer to complete their multi-dose series. For more information, see interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine. See COVID-19 vaccination guidance for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised for additional information.
Understanding the risk of COVID-19 for yourself and those around you can help you make informed decisions to keep you safe and healthy. If you have risk factors, have a COVID-19 plan in place in case you get sick, and discuss that plan with your healthcare provider and those close to you. Learn what extra precautions you can take to protect yourself and others in settings that make you more likely to be exposed to COVID-19.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is always changing, and protection from COVID-19 vaccines declines over time. While the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines provided enhanced protection against illness and hospitalization last year, new variants are emerging and replacing previous variants. Variants of the XBB family are currently causing most COVID-19 cases.
Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax have each created an updated COVID-19 vaccine to target currently circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.
Sign Up, Scheduling and Vaccination Card
The type of vaccine available depends on the clinic, and individuals must receive an age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine. You can use Vaccines.gov to search nearby COVID-19 vaccine providers by vaccine type. You can also call the provider or check their website to see if they offer the type of vaccine you want.
Click here to find COVID-19 vaccine available near you or check with your healthcare provider, pharmacy or local health department. Learn more about the vaccine.
You will get a vaccination card with your name at your first appointment. The vaccine provider will update your card with any future COVID-19 vaccinations. It’s a good idea to take a picture of the card on your smartphone in case you lose it. To find your vaccination records online, visit Access Indiana. You will need to create an Access Indiana account to access your records.
You can also find your COVID-19 vaccination record on MyVaxIndiana, the state’s online vaccination portal. You will need a Patient ID Number (PIN) to access your immunizations record using MyVaxIndiana. Healthcare providers and local health departments are the primary access point to obtain PINs. Call ahead to ensure the provider or local health department can get your PIN. You can also reach out to your local health department for a replacement card.
Most COVID-19 vaccine providers schedule appointments over the phone or online. Call your vaccine provider or visit their website for details.
You can use Vaccines.gov to find a location near you, then call or visit the provider’s website to make an appointment. You can also use the website to check if providers have the type of vaccine you want. If you are an adult without health insurance or an adult whose insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs, use Vaccines.gov to search for providers participating in the Bridge Access Program to get a vaccine at no cost to you.
For people with health insurance, most plans will cover COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to you. People who don’t have health insurance or with health plans that do not cover the cost may get a free vaccine from select local healthcare providers, local health departments and pharmacies participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program also may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program.
Safety and Efficacy
Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax have each created an updated COVID-19 vaccine to target currently circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. The updated vaccines are expected to provide good protection against COVID-19 from the currently circulating variants.
Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you or check with your healthcare provider, pharmacy or local health department. Learn more about the vaccine.
You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same visit. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, and possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.
Please call or visit your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your health. If your symptoms are life-threatening, go to the emergency room or call 911 immediately. Adverse events, including severe allergic reactions, after COVID-19 vaccination are rare but can happen. Learn more about what you can do if you have an allergic reaction.
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System can be used by you or your healthcare provider to report a side effect, adverse event, or reaction from COVID-19 vaccine. You can also report side effects directly to Moderna at 1-866-663-3762, Pfizer at 800-438-1985, or Novavax at 1-844-668-2829.
Adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines are rare. Based on more than two years of experience with the vaccines, including ongoing monitoring of side effects, the risk of having an adverse reaction to the vaccine is extremely low – much lower than the risk of serious illness if infected by the virus.
Vaccine ingredients vary by manufacturer. None of the vaccines contain eggs, gelatin, latex, or preservatives. All COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals, such as iron, nickel, cobalt, lithium, and rare earth alloys. They are also free from manufactured products such as microelectronics, electrodes, carbon nanotubes, and nanowire semiconductors. None of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized or approved in the United States contain any live virus.
To learn more about the ingredients in authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines, see
Anaphylaxis after COVID-19 vaccination is rare but can happen. It has occurred at a rate of approximately 5 cases per one million vaccine doses administered. If you get a COVID-19 vaccine and you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination provider site, seek immediate medical care by calling 911.
Seasonal allergies or food allergies, like allergies to shellfish or peanuts, do not exclude you from getting the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have had an immediate allergic reaction of any severity to any other vaccine or injectable therapy in the past, then you should talk to your healthcare provider before getting vaccinated. If you have had a rash on the arm where you got a COVID-19 shot, have had a non-severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 shot, or have had a severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 shot, please see these vaccine recommendations.
Side effects after a COVID-19 vaccination are typically mild and subside in one to two days — like soreness in the arm, fatigue, headaches, or a slight fever. Side effects can vary from person to person. For a list of common symptoms, helpful tips to relief side effects, and additional safety information. Even if you don’t experience any side effects, your body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.
Adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines are rare. Based on more than two years of experience with the vaccines, including ongoing monitoring of side effects, the risk of having an adverse reaction to the vaccine is extremely low – much lower than the risk of serious illness if infected by the virus.
There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility of women or men. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations is recommended for individuals who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future, and those who are breastfeeding. A growing body of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination indicates that the benefits of vaccination outweigh any potential risks of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. Maternal vaccination has also been shown to be safe and effective and protects infants younger than age 6 months from severe COVID-19 and hospitalization.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination for people who would like to have a baby.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe. COVID-19 vaccines are the most tested and monitored vaccines in U.S. history. Hundreds of millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine to date.
COVID-19 vaccines prevent serious illness. Vaccines safeguard against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. In fact, for adults who received the updated bivalent booster, the risk of visiting an emergency room or being hospitalized was reduced by 50 percent.
COVID-19 vaccines save lives. COVID-19 vaccines saved about 20 million lives worldwide in the first year they were available, based on a scientific model that used country-level data across the globe.
Like all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection. Some people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations will get COVID-19 breakthrough infection. However, staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations means that you are less likely to have a breakthrough infection and, if you do get sick, you are less likely to get severely ill or die. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination also means you are less likely to spread the disease to others and increases your protection against new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Medical and public health experts, including the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that children and adolescents age 6 months and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect them from contracting and spreading the virus.
The vaccine is the best way to protect children from becoming severely ill or having long-lasting health impacts due to COVID-19. While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, it is still possible. COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, and tens of thousands of children and teens have been hospitalized with COVID-19.
Another important reason for children to get the COVID-19 vaccine is to protect their friends, family, and the broader community from the spread of the virus. The higher the vaccination rates, the lower the chances that the coronavirus will mutate into additional variants.
COVID-19 Infection, Exposure and Treatment
If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, follow the steps outlined by the CDC to care for yourself and to help protect other people in your home and community. Stay home and separate yourself from other people.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) may not develop an immune response to COVID-19 vaccination that is as strong as in people who are not immunocompromised. If you have one or more health conditions that increase your risk of becoming very sick, you may benefit from treatment. Contact a health professional right away if you develop symptoms or test positive to determine if you are eligible for treatment, even if your symptoms are mild right now. Don’t delay: Treatment must be started within the first few days to be effective. Visit the Indiana COVID-19 Treatment page for more information and a map of sites offering treatment.
Vaccination significantly reduces your risk of severe illness and hospitalization. When people who are vaccinated develop symptoms of COVID-19, they tend to be less severe than in people who are unvaccinated.
Beginning September 25, every U.S. household can again place an order through COVID.gov/tests to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. Before You Throw Out "Expired" Tests: Check to see if your COVID-19 tests' expiration dates have been extended.
Some insurance providers may cover the cost of the kits, and retailers may offer online tools to check if your insurance provider offers coverage for test kits. Contact a HRSA health center, Test to Treat site, ICATT location, or your local health department to learn how to access low- or no-cost COVID-19 tests in your area.
People who have been exposed to COVID-19 can get the vaccine if they do not have symptoms and have not tested positive for COVID-19. However, they should take precautions and follow the CDC’s exposure guidance. They should wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) any time they are around others inside their home or indoors in public for 10 days after their exposure.
People with COVID-19 should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation, even if they were asymptomatic. If you recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying your next COVID-19 vaccine by 3 months from when your symptoms started or when you received a positive test, but it is not required.
A small number of people who have taken Paxlovid experienced a return of their symptoms several days after they initially recover and test negative for COVID-19. In clinical trials, 1 to 2 percent of participants experienced a recurrence of their symptoms after taking Paxlovid. While medical experts continue to monitor this issue, data from Pfizer and the CDC show that people who experience COVID-19 rebounds have had mild illness. The CDC continues to recommend the antiviral as a treatment for people who test positive and are at high risk for severe COVID-19.
If you experience COVID-19 rebound, you should restart the recommended 5-day isolation period. Currently, there is no evidence that you need to extend your treatment or be treated again with Paxlovid. You should contact a healthcare provider if your symptoms persist or worsen.
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is a similar condition that affects adults and is rarer than MIS-C. Most people with MIS-C or MIS-A had the virus that causes COVID-19 or had been around someone with COVID-19.
People diagnosed with MIS-C or MIS-A should discuss COVID-19 vaccination with their clinical care team. The CDC says the benefits of vaccinating those who have had MIS-C or MIS-A outweigh the theoretical risks as long as 90 days have passed since the diagnosis and the patient has achieved clinical recovery, including return to baseline heart function. COVID-19 vaccination may also be considered for people who had MIS-C or MIS-A and do not meet those criteria, at the discretion of their clinical care team. See the CDC’s recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination and MIS-C and MIS-A.
Like all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection. People who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations may still get a COVID-19 infection after vaccination. However, COVID-19 vaccination significantly lowers your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death if you get infected. Compared to people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, unvaccinated people are more likely to get COVID-19, much more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, and much more likely to die from COVID-19.
You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others. Check the CDC’s latest isolation guidelines for specific details.
A small number of people who have taken Paxlovid experienced a return of their symptoms several days after they initially recover and test negative for COVID-19. If you experience COVID-19 rebound, you should restart the recommended 5-day isolation period. Currently, there is no evidence that you need to extend your treatment or be treated again with Paxlovid. You should contact a healthcare provider if your symptoms persist or worsen.
In clinical trials, 1 to 2 percent of participants experienced a recurrence of their symptoms after taking Paxlovid. While medical experts continue to monitor this issue, data from Pfizer and the CDC show that people who experience COVID-19 rebounds have had mild illness. The CDC continues to recommend the antiviral as a treatment for people who test positive and are at high risk for severe COVID-19.
People with COVID-19 should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation, even if asymptomatic. You may consider delaying your vaccine by 3 months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you received a positive test. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19. People who already had COVID-19 and do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get vaccinated after their recovery.
