(If symptoms don’t resolve within 72 hours or if you have respiratory symptoms, such as cough or shortness of breath, call your doctor.) On rare occasions, the vaccine has appeared to trigger anaphylaxis, a severe reaction that is treatable with epinephrine (the drug in Epipens ®). Because Pfizer-BioNTech says its data shows a smaller dose produces a strong immune response in children, the two 10-microgram doses for children ages 5-11 is smaller than the two 30-microgram doses given to teens and adults.Ĭommon side effects: Chills, headache, pain, tiredness, and/or redness and swelling at the injection site, all of which generally resolve within a day or two of rest, hydration, and medications like acetaminophen. Recommended for: Children and adults ages 5 and older.ĭosage: Two shots, 21 days apart fully effective two weeks after second shot. Single-shot booster doses can be administered to those who are eligible at least six months after completion of the primary doses. can be taken as a booster shot, regardless of the vaccine used for the primary vaccination.) People with certain immunocompromising conditions can get a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines so they can reach a level of immunity they were not able to reach after two doses. (A mix-and-match policy means that any of the three COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S.
Pfizer-BioNTtech booster doses are available to all adults older than 18 six months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna shot, or two months after their Johnson & Johnson shot. Status: Approved for ages 16 and older in the U.S., with EUA for ages 5-15, and in other countries, including in the European Union (under the name Comirnaty), for specified age groups. It must be stored in freezer-level temperatures, which can make it more difficult to distribute than some other vaccines. This is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, which uses a relatively new technology. It was also the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) back in December 2020, after the company reported its vaccine was highly effective at preventing symptomatic disease.
Pfizer-BioNTech was the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive full Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for people ages 16 and older in August 2021.