No-cost COVID-19 vaccines for you and your family

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the amount and duration of protection from vaccination or infection can vary from person to person. It is expected that protection from the updated vaccine will decline over time. However, vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19 related hospitalization and death.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends updated COVID-19 vaccination for everyone ages 6 months and older to better protect you and your loved ones.

As of October 23, 2024, the CDC also recommends for people ages 65 years and older as well as anyone who is moderately or severely immunocompromised to receive a second dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine six months after their first dose (minimum interval of two months). The recommendation also allows for flexibility to receive additional doses (i.e., three or more) for those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised at least two months after the last dose received, with shared clinical decision making.

Please talk to your pharmacist or health care provider to help determine what’s best for you.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not prefer the use of any one COVID-19 vaccine over another when more than one recommended and age-appropriate vaccine is available.

For individuals age 5 or older who are not immunocompromised and have never been vaccinated against COVID-19, the CDC recommends one dose of the updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised, it is recommended you receive an initial vaccination series. Be sure to speak with your health care provider about the most recent and relevant recommendations.

The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is another available vaccine option that does not use mRNA technology. Instead, it combines spike proteins with an adjuvant, which stimulates your immune system. This helps your immune system understand how to fight the COVID-19 virus.

People hesitant about trying mRNA vaccines may prefer the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. The Novavax vaccine uses traditional protein subunit technology. The same technology is found in other common vaccines, such as vaccines for hepatitis B and shingles.

mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) is a molecule that is necessary for protein production. An mRNA molecule acts as an instruction guide or recipe book for the body's cells. Cells use mRNA for specific protein production, and then the mRNA is broken down once the process is done. mRNA doesn’t alter DNA during this process.

CVS offers several mRNA vaccines, including those from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is a non-mRNA option for vaccination.

When you get an mRNA vaccine, your cells create the same protein that’s part of a specific virus. For example, when you get a COVID-19 vaccine, your cells learn how to make the spike protein. You may also hear the spike protein called an S protein. The S protein sits on the surface of the COVID-19 virus.

After your body creates this S protein, your body treats the protein like an intruder, causing antibodies to form. These antibodies help protect you if you're exposed to COVID-19 later on. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from serious disease complications. These complications include hospitalization and death. 

Viruses, such as COVID-19 and influenza, can evolve. You should stay up-to-date on your vaccines because circulating variants change. Protection from a vaccine can also decrease over time.