CDC Covid Vaccine Guidelines – COVID-19 has interrupted the life of every American in and outside the country. Most of us are forced to live by getting infected at any time of the day. It is also among the worst times for the citizens, not just in the United States but all around the world.
The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been trying to help every American in the country. With the help of funding provided by the federal government of the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing several services related to COVID-19 for free of cost.
Because of all that, the vaccine for COVID-19 is also available free of cost in the United States, and every eligible American can get vaccinated by creating an appointment at any of the pharmaceutical giants such as CVS Pharmacy Walgreens, and Rite Aid.
Apart from providing free vaccination, the Centers slow Disease Control and Prevention also issues CDC COVID vaccine guidelines to ensure that people are following the right guidelines and studies.
The Latest Update in the CDC COVID Vaccine Guidelines
Before we move ahead and talk about the general CDC COVID vaccine guidelines, let’s first take a look at the latest updates in these guidelines.
A few days ago, The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the booster dose of the COVID vaccine made by Pfizer for every American in the country above the age of 5.
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States released a statement that also mentioned that Pfizer had administered more than 18 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to this specific age group.
Even though the children are going to get general or common side effects of the vaccine, we have not seen any major side effects of the Pfizer vaccine in this age group. Lastly, the FDA concluded that it is one of the safest vaccines, and now we want to expand the booster shot age category.
Soon after the announcement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also updated its guidelines, and now everyone above the age of 5 is eligible to receive The first booster shot of the COVID vaccine after completing five months of the primary series.
CDC COVID Vaccine Guidelines for ages 5 to 11
We have divided the CDC COVID vaccine guidelines into three age groups. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States have different guidelines for all these three age groups. We are going to start from the bottom.
Primary series
This winter Disease Control and Prevention has mentioned that everyone above the age of 5 to 11 living in the United States should get vaccinated with the two-dose primary series offered by Pfizer.
You must make sure that there is at least a three to 8 weeks difference between the two primary series shorts. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not recommended or approved any other vaccine for ages 5 to 11.
Booster shot
Only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for this age group and after the latest guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention age group of five to 11 is also eligible to receive one booster shot made by Pfizer at least five months after receiving the final dose of the primary series.
To get all these three vaccines, a person has to wait for at least five months and three weeks. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not recommended a second booster shot for this age group.
The CDC considers fully vaccinated after two weeks of getting the final primary dose and up to date immediately after receiving the first booster shot.
CDC COVID Vaccine Guidelines for ages 12 to 17
Age 12 to 17 is the second category under the latest CDC COVID vaccine guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention.
These guidelines are also similar to the age group of 5 to 11. This means that only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration along with the Centers for Disease Control and prevention.
Vaccines made by Moderna have not been recommended yet for anyone below the age of 18 in the United States. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the Food and Drug Administration of the United States, have limited the use of vaccines made by Johnson and Johnson.
primary Series
Everyone is eligible to receive two of those primary series. You must make sure that there is a gap of three to eight weeks between both of the doses.
Kindly remember, there is no option to get the vaccine made by Moderna or Johnson and Johnson. The United States Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has only approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine for the age group of 12 to 17.
Booster Shot
After completing five months of the final dose of the primary series, the children are eligible to receive the first booster shot.
There is one major difference between guidelines for ages 5 to 11 and 12 to 17. Every immunocompromised child between the ages of 12 to 17 is eligible to receive the second booster shot.
CDC COVID Vaccine Guidelines for age 18 or older
The final age category for the CDC COVID vaccine guidelines is the age category above the age of 18. This category is more flexible, and there are multiple options for both primary series and booster shots.
Primary Series
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have approved three different vaccines as a primary series for everyone above the age of 18.
In the previous categories, you were only allowed to get the vaccine made by Pfizer, but people in this category can get any vaccine they like. You can opt for Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson and Johnson.
Even though the United States Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have already limited the use of vaccines made by Johnson and Johnson, under some conditions, everyone above the age of 18 can get vaccinated by Johnson and Johnson also.
Similar to any other age category, you must maintain at least three to eight weeks of the gap between the two primary doses of the COVID vaccine.
Booster Shots
Everyone above the age of 18 is eligible to receive At least one booster shot of the COVID vaccine. As per the latest guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, you must complete at least five months after the final dose of the primary series to receive the first booster shot.
You can select any booster shot you want. Pfizer Moderna, Johnson, and Johnson, all three vaccines are available, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the Food and Drug Administration of the United States, only recommend Pfizer and Moderna.
A few weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that they are going to allow the second booster shot of the COVID vaccine to everyone above the age of 50. If you are above the age of 50, then you can get the second booster shot of the poverty vaccine. You must maintain at least four months of gap between the first and second booster shot.
Where to get the COVID Vaccine?
Now, the big question is where to get the vaccine for COVID. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is in partnership with several pharmaceutical giants in the United States to provide the COVID vaccine free of cost to every eligible American.
You can use the official website of these pharmaceutical giants to create an appointment. Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS pharmacy Are offering all the vaccines at their respective pharmacies throughout the nation.
In total, there are more than 10,000 locations of just these three pharmaceutical giants. Apart from that, the Centers for Disease Control and prevention is also providing vaccines through several independent clinics and public health care centers.
You are completely free to use the services of any pharmacy you want. For example, you get your primary series of vaccines from Rite Aid, and now you want to get your booster shots at Walgreens. No one is stopping you from doing that. You are completely free to create an appointment and get vaccinated.
Has the mix and match policy of the COVID vaccine changed in the United States?
The mix-match policy of the COVID vaccine has not changed in the United States yet. Even in the latest CDC COVID vaccine guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nothing new has been released by the authority yet. Everyone in the United States is eligible to switch the vaccine whenever they like. The decision to mix and match policy came around the Centers for Disease Control and prevention along with the Food and Drug Administration of the United States limiting the use of vaccines made by Johnson and Johnson.