From the Guidelines
The recommended COVID-19 vaccination schedule for most people includes an initial primary series followed by updated booster doses, with the most recent guidance from 2024 recommending specific schedules based on age, vaccination history, and immune status 1. For individuals 6 months and older, the primary series typically consists of two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines spaced 3-8 weeks apart, or for those 12 and older, a single dose of Novavax may be considered in specific circumstances. After completing the primary series, individuals should receive the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine formulation as a booster dose, with the timing between the primary series and boosters being at least 2 months for most people, as outlined in the recommendations for persons without moderate or severe immunocompromise 1. People with compromised immune systems may need additional doses in their primary series, and specific recommendations are provided for those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, including the possibility of receiving an initial 3-dose vaccination series of a 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or 2 doses of 2024-2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine 1. The COVID-19 vaccines stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, particularly targeting the spike protein, which helps prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Key considerations for the vaccination schedule include:
- For children aged 6 months–4 years, an initial multidose vaccination series is recommended, including at least 1 dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine 1.
- For persons aged 5–11 years without moderate to severe immunocompromise, 1 dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech) is needed to be up to date 1.
- For persons aged ≥12 years without moderate to severe immunocompromise, 1 dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna, Novavax, or Pfizer-BioNTech) is needed to be up to date, with specific considerations for those choosing to receive Novavax 1. These recommendations are based on the most recent guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and are intended to provide a framework for healthcare providers to make informed decisions about COVID-19 vaccination for their patients 1.
From the Research
COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule
The recommended COVID-19 vaccination schedule is not explicitly stated in the provided studies. However, the studies discuss the importance of vaccination in preventing COVID-19 and the effectiveness of various vaccines.
Vaccine Effectiveness
- The studies suggest that COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The vaccines have been shown to be effective against various variants of the virus, including the Delta variant 2, 4.
- The studies also discuss the importance of vaccination in preventing COVID-19 in high-risk populations, such as older adults and those with certain medical conditions 2, 5.
Vaccination Recommendations
- The studies recommend that all eligible individuals receive COVID-19 vaccination 2, 4, 5.
- The recommendations also suggest that vaccination should be prioritized for high-risk populations, such as older adults and those with certain medical conditions 2, 5.
- The studies discuss the importance of considering individual factors, such as age and medical history, when determining the recommended vaccination schedule 5, 6.