Enroll Now

COVID-19 Vaccines

Three vaccines are now available to prevent COVID-19 disease in the United States:

• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
• Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine

See interim clinical considerations for use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) currently authorized in the US from the CDC for administration, patient counseling, and other details.

Vaccine Administration: Ages 12 and older now eligible

All individuals ages 12 and older are now eligible for vaccination. The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available for those ages 18 and older. Only the Pfizer vaccine is available to those ages 12 to 17.

Johnson & Johnson vaccine is again authorized for use in people 18 years or older in Washington.

Vaccination spacing

On January 6, CDC revised interim clinical considerations for use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States. The updated guidance states people should not be scheduled to receive second doses earlier than recommended. There is no maximum interval between first and second doses. If the second dose is given after the recommended timeframe, there is no need to restart the series.

Vaccine costs

Patients should not pay out-of-pocket costs to get COVID-19 vaccine. Enrolled providers must give the vaccine regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Providers may bill a patient’s health plan or program. Providers may not bill the patient for the balance. For details, see CDC’s information on filing claims for reimbursement.

Pfizer Vaccine Storage Updates

The FDA updated its Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine storage guidelines. The vaccine may be kept at standard frozen temperatures, including:

• Storing undiluted Pfizer vaccine vials at -25°C to -15°C for up to 2 weeks.
• Transport undiluted Pfizer vaccine vials at -25°C to -15°C.
• Continue to thaw and store Pfizer vaccine in the refrigerator (2°C to 8°C) for up to 5 days.

View the updated fact sheet.

Helpful Resources for Offices Administering Vaccine

·       Pre-vaccination checklist for COVID-19 vaccines:

English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Tagalog

.        V-Safe Infographic:

English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Tagalog

·       Moderna EUA fact sheet for recipients and caregivers

·       Pfizer EUA fact sheet for recipients and caregivers

·       Johnson & Johnson EUA Fact sheet for recipients and caregivers

Additional Information for Providers

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) COVID-19 Vaccine Training Module offers a general overview of immunization best practices for healthcare providers.

The DOH COVID-19 vaccine provider toolkit has many helpful resources.

Keep your patients informed.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine planning, development and safety standards from DOH and CDC.