The U.S. currently uses five COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. All are safe and effective against the coronavirus, especially in preventing hospitalization and death.
The
There are two types of COVID-19 vaccines available: mRNA and protein subunit vaccines. mRNA stands for messenger RNA, which is part of DNA that tells cells how to produce proteins. mRNA vaccines work by using mRNA to tell your body how to make part of the protein in the virus that causes COVID-19. You can’t get COVID-19 from these proteins, but your body can make antibodies to fight the virus when these proteins are present.
Protein subunit vaccines use a part of the virus that causes COVID-19. Since it’s only part of the virus, you can’t get COVID-19 from it, but it stimulates your body to produce antibodies that fight the virus and help prevent you from getting COVID-19 or help you have milder symptoms if you do get it.
Both types have been found to be effective. The CDC recommends the 2024-2025 versions for all COVID-19 vaccines because these vaccines are made for the most recent variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes COVID-19).
You may wonder which of these vaccines is best for you. The answer depends on many factors, including your age and overall health, but according to the CDC, they do not recommend any one COVID-19 vaccine over another when more than one vaccine is available for you based on your age and health.
Read on to learn more about the CDC-recommended vaccination schedule for each approved vaccine and which may be best for you.
The following summary shows the latest CDC vaccination guidelines for the five currently approved COVID-19 vaccines in the United States for individuals who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised. That means you do not have health conditions that make you more likely to have serious reactions to infections and other health events.
Data is based on the 2024 to 2025 vaccination
| 2024–2025 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA vaccines): Pfizer (6 months to 11 years old) and COMIRNATY (12 years old and older) 2024-25 Vaccinations | Moderna (mRNA vaccines): Moderna (6 months to 11 years old) and SPIKEVAX (12 years old and older) 2024-25 Vaccinations | Novavax (protein subunit vaccine) 2024-25 Vaccinations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended ages | 6 months old and older | 6 months old and older | 12 years old and older |
| Primary series | 1 initial dose: 6 months to 11 years: • dose 1 – initial dose (1 booster later) 5 years and older: • 1 dose only (no booster needed) | 1 or 2 initial doses: 6 months to 4 years: • dose 1 now 5 years to 64 years: • only 1 dose needed for individuals who are 6 months to 64 years old and who have a 2024–25 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination Over 65 years old: • 1 initial vaccination (and 1 booster to follow) | 1 initial dose: 12 years old and older: • dose 1 – initial dose |
| Booster dose | Booster (dose 2): 6 months to 11 years: • dose 2 given at least 4 to 8 weeks after Dose 1 Over 65 years old: • dose 2 given at 4 months after dose 1 | Booster (dose 2): 6 months to 4 years: • dose 2 – 4 to 8 weeks after dose 1 of any type of mRNA vaccination 5 years to 64 years: • No dose 2 needed for individuals who are 4 years to 64 years old and who have a 2024–25 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (CDC does not recommend any COVID-19 vaccination except the 2024-25 versions.) Over 65 years old: •needs to have 2 doses of a 2024-25 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination, regardless of COVID-19 Vaccination history • dose 2 given 6 months after dose 1 of a 2024-25 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination | Booster (dose 2): dose 2 given 6 months after dose 1 |
When COVID-19 vaccines were first introduced, the general rule of thumb was that the best vaccine was the one that you could get. However, at the beginning of 2022, the
The J&J vaccine has since been discontinued. In 2023, the
Today, the
You’ll need to follow the dosing schedule for the specific vaccination you choose.
So, which is better for you and your health situation?
mRNA vaccines: Is Pfizer or Moderna better?
MRNA vaccines tell your body how to make the necessary protein to fight a virus. Clinical trials for the two mRNA vaccines found that both Pfizer and Moderna were safe and had similar effectiveness: 95% for Pfizer and 94.1% for Moderna.
The similar effectiveness of these vaccines also extends into a real-world setting.
A 2022 study examined vaccine effectiveness in U.S. veterans vaccinated between January and May 2021. While the two vaccines were comparable, the Moderna vaccine prevented symptomatic infection and hospitalization slightly more effectively than the Pfizer vaccine.
Note that the effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may vary depending on the coronavirus variant.
For example, a 2022 study of the Pfizer vaccine against the Omicron variant found that vaccine effectiveness was 67.2% in the 2 to 4 weeks after a booster but declined to 45.7% after 10 or more weeks.
Another
That said, the
Protein subunit vaccine: Is Novavax better than the mRNA vaccines?
Protein subunit vaccines are a direct injection of a modified protein that stimulates the immune system to make antibodies and T cells to fight a virus.
A 2023 study compared the effectiveness of mRNA and protein subunit vaccines. Researchers found that all the newer vaccines are at least 90% effective regardless of how they work.
However, a 2023 study suggests that Novavax may cause fewer side effects than mRNA vaccines.
Some research suggests that mixing mRNA and protein subunit vaccines might result in a better immune response and, therefore, better protection. For example, a
However, the
- the preferred vaccine is unavailable
- there’s no information on the previous dose
- you would otherwise not receive a recommended vaccine dose
- you cannot complete the original vaccination series because you had an adverse reaction
As with adults, there isn’t a clear answer as to which vaccine is better for your child.
The
Currently, the CDC recommends the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for children 6 months old and older, whereas Novavax is intended for those
Research shows that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are generally safe for children. Lower doses have been deemed safe for children ages 6 months to 5 years.
While children have a higher chance of developing myocarditis (an inflammation of the heart) related to mRNA vaccines, this risk is now
According to a 2022 review of studies that investigated the risk of myocarditis, individuals are seven times more likely to experience myocarditis after infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 than after a COVID-19 vaccination. Extending the time between doses to 8 weeks helps improve immune response and reduce the risk of myocarditis even more.
A 2023 clinical study also found that Novavax caused mostly mild adolescent reactions, which were only slightly stronger after the second dose. A follow-up study in 2025 found that the Novavax vaccine was
However, since Novavax is still relatively new, more research is needed.
One
This highlights the importance of getting additional boosters in this age group, especially those released to target newer virus variants.
Multiple
When it comes to which is best, a
A 2024 study compared mRNA and protein subunit vaccines in Taiwan. Researchers found that in people over 65 years old who were given three vaccine doses, both vaccine types provided comparable protection against death. The effectiveness rates against death were:
- 86.6% for Moderna
- 85.2% for Novavax
- 83.6% for Pfizer
Therefore, which vaccine is preferable to someone in this age group might ultimately be based on personal preference.
People who are immunocompromised have an increased risk of severe illness or death due to COVID-19. This includes people who:
- are taking immunosuppressant drugs
- are receiving cancer treatment
- have received an organ or stem cell transplant
- are living with HIV
- have an inherited immunodeficiency syndrome
As with adults and children, the
A
That said, a
However, this study did not examine the Novavax vaccine.
A
A
The COVID-19 vaccine schedule for immunocompromised people differs slightly from the schedule for the larger population. The table below shows the CDC’s
Be sure to speak with the healthcare professional who gives you your COVID-19 vaccination. They can let you know if you need more than one COVID-19 vaccination and when you need to have it.
| Any 2024–25 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine: Pfizer or COMIRNATY (mRNA vaccines) | Any 2024–25 Moderna (mRNA vaccine) | 2024–25 Novavax (protein subunit vaccine) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended ages | 6 months and older | 6 months and older | 12 years and older |
| Primary series | 3 initial doses: • dose 1 now (or before) • dose 2 given at least 3 weeks after dose 1 • dose 3 given at least 4 weeks after dose 2 | 3 initial doses: • dose 1 (now or before) • dose 2 given at least 3 weeks after dose 1 • dose 3 given at least 8 weeks after dose 2 | 2 initial series: • dose 1 (now or before) • dose 2 at least 3 weeks after Dose 1 |
| Booster dose | Booster (dose 4): • typically given 6 months after Dose 3 • in 2025, dose 4 may be administered as soon as 8 weeks after the last dose of the 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccine | Booster (dose 4): • typically, given 6 months after Dose 3 • in 2025, dose 4 may be administered as soon as 8 weeks after the last dose of the 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccine | Booster (dose 3): • typically given 6 months after Dose • in 2025, dose 4 may be administered as soon as 8 weeks after the last dose of the 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccine |
To be protected from COVID-19, it’s important to stay current on your COVID-19 vaccines. But what exactly does this mean?
According to the
The
If you’ve received only your primary vaccine series, you are considered fully vaccinated but not current.
Note that if you have a compromised immune system, your doctor may also recommend taking pemivibart (Pemgarda). The FDA recently
Overall, receiving any of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines is better than not getting vaccinated. This is because all of the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at protecting you from serious illness and death due to COVID-19.
The brand and type of vaccine you prefer largely depend on your age, health conditions, and preferences. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional if you have any questions or concerns about your COVID-19 vaccination.
