Where to get shots

Important update: Healthcare facilities. Learn more. To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, get vaccinated as soon as you can and wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.

Updated Oct. Minus Related Pages. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Last Updated Oct. To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, get vaccinated as soon as you can and wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.

Updated Oct. Minus Related Pages. If You Need a Second Shot. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Last Updated Oct. And if you received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma as a treatment for your infection, the CDC recommends waiting 90 days after that treatment is over. A CDC study of more than 10, people who took a third dose found that they experienced mild side-effects like headache and joint pain at a similar rate as in the first two doses.

Data on mix-and-match shots is still fairly limited compared to the primary shots. And about 11 million people have already received a booster. At the same time, COVID can cause many of the same symptoms—from inflammation of the heart, to blood clotting, to hemorrhaging—at a much higher rate. While the vaccines continue to provide extremely strong protection against death from COVID, the CDC estimates that their efficacy against hospitalization wanes slightly over time.

Boosters appear to restore that potency. The more people who are protected against infection, the less likely someone with a weakened immune system is to catch the virus—like Colin Powell, who died of COVID, was fully vaccinated, but had a cancer of his white blood cells. Get answers to questions or help finding a vaccine near you.

Help is available in English, Spanish, and many other languages. DIAL n4a. Frequently Asked Questions How do I schedule an appointment for a vaccine?