UPMC currently offers the Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized two Omicron-specific boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The boosters are important to make sure you are protected against both the COVID-19 virus and the Omicron variant. They are called a “bivalent” vaccine; they protect against two, or “bi,” viruses.
These booster shots are bivalent because they target both the original version of the coronavirus and the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants. The FDA no longer authorizes the original monovalent formulations as boosters in people aged 6 months and older. The original Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines continue to be authorized as the primary vaccine series in people aged 6 months and older.
The bivalent booster dose provides increased protection against the most recent Omicron subvariants. The previous vaccine — or natural immunity from infection — provides only partial protection.
Individuals who meet criteria can schedule for a COVID-19 bivalent booster by:
Now, mRNA bivalent booster doses are available for individuals who are age 6 months and older. In October, the FDA authorized Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for use as a booster dose in younger age groups.
You qualify to receive the bivalent vaccine if you received the first COVID-19 vaccination series even if you:
Unless you are age 6 months to 5 years, when receiving the updated bivalent booster, it does not need to be from the same manufacturer as your primary vaccine or booster.
For instance, if your first series was Novavax, Janssen, Moderna, or Pfizer, you can get a Moderna or Pfizer bivalent booster. Under current federal guidance, no one is currently eligible for more than one bivalent booster.
If you’re currently unvaccinated but would like to be, schedule a COVID-19 vaccine now. Your first COVID-19 vaccine will be a standard monovalent vaccine. After that, you can receive a Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster.
The new bivalent vaccine booster recommendation also replaces the prior schedules for immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised people. Depending on a person’s eligibility criteria, that schedule may have included multiple monovalent booster doses.
UPMC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone age 6 months and older and boosters for all who qualify. The vaccine has consistently shown to reduce the risks of serious complications of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.
If your child or patient is an existing UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics patient, schedule an appointment through the UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics website or by calling the child's pediatrician's office.
If your child or patient is NOT an existing UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics patient, schedule an appointment online by using the "Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine" button or calling 844-876-2822 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
To schedule a vaccine, click the button or schedule an appointment by phone by calling 844-876-2822, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine in Potter County, Pa., call 814-274-5460 (for adults) or 814-274-9198 (for pediatrics).
By clicking "Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine", you will enter UPMC's Certify Care system, where you will set up an account, answer important health questions, and pick a vaccination location, date, and time. You can search by location and which vaccines are offered. Once you schedule an appointment, you will receive confirmations and reminders from UPMC's Certify Care system. These may include text messages and emails from "UPMC Vaccine Scheduling."
*Not all locations have the bivalent booster.
A "primary series" is the number of vaccinations needed to give the first basic immunity to a virus.
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccination and booster guidelines.
If you develop a COVID-19 infection before or while receiving your vaccination series, you should pause until you are no longer contagious and feel well enough to be vaccinated. For most people, that means 10 to 20 days since symptoms first appeared. You should wait until you feel well enough to receive the vaccine. If you are unsure when to receive the vaccine, talk with your doctor.
If you are immunocompromised, including those who have had a solid organ transplant, are on chemotherapy, or have certain chronic illnesses:
You received two doses, three to eight weeks apart*:
You received two doses, four to eight weeks apart*:
The J&J vaccine is authorized when mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are not available, are not recommended, or are declined.
You received one dose:
Talk with your doctor first.
You received two doses, three weeks apart.
Those who received a hematopoietic cell transplant, or a CAR-T cell treatment should discuss additional doses with their doctor.
*Talk with your doctor if you have any questions.
**An acceptable alternative when mRNA bivalent boosters are not clinically appropriate, 6 months or more after primary series.
You can get one dose of the bivalent booster regardless of the number of boosters already received (none, one, or more).
You received two doses, three to eight weeks apart*:
You received two doses, four to eight weeks apart:
The J&J vaccine is authorized when other COVID-19 vaccines are not available, are not recommended, or are declined.
You received one dose:
You received two doses, three to eight weeks apart*:
Talk with your doctor if you have any questions.
*Recommendation is to receive your second dose closer to eight weeks after your first dose if you are:
Recommendation is to receive your second dose closer to three to four weeks after your first dose if:
**An acceptable alternative when mRNA bivalent boosters are not clinically appropriate, six months or more after primary series.
Talk with your doctor about when to get vaccinated if recently exposed or infected, if you have concerns about potential side effects, and about which vaccine is right for you.
You can get one dose of the bivalent booster regardless of the number of boosters already received (none, one, or more).
You can get one dose of the bivalent booster regardless of the number of boosters already received (none, one, or more).
*Recommendation is to receive your second dose closer to eight weeks after your first dose if you are:
Recommendation is to receive your second dose closer to three to four weeks after your first dose if:
If you scheduled an appointment with a UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics office, please visit their website.
If you need accommodations for your preferred language, sensory processing needs, anxiety, physical disabilities, or privacy needs, we can help. Please let the greeter or another staff member know when you arrive.
Six months and older. Talk to your doctor to see which is right for you and your family.
There are two options for scheduling a child for a vaccination appointment.
If your child or patient is an existing UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics patient:
If your child or patient is NOT an existing UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics patient:
The FDA authorized Novavax for individuals age 12 and older. Like other available COVID-19 vaccines, the Novavax vaccine prepares your immune system to recognize and control COVID-19. The Novavax vaccine is given as the primary vaccine for individuals who are not yet vaccinated. Once you get the first vaccines with Novavax, you are then eligible for a Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster.
The vaccines are considered safe for those who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding. If you are unsure or if you plan to receive the Novovax vaccine, we encourage you to talk with your OB provider.
To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine in Spanish, call 833-660-2416 and press 1
Para llamar en español para pedir su cita de vacunación contra el COVID-19, marque 833-660-2416 y pulse la opción 1.To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine in Nepali, call 833-660-2416 and press 2
नेपालीमा तपाईंको COVID-19 भ्याक्सिन तालिका बनाउन ८३३ ६६० २४१६ मा कल गर्नुहोस् र २ थिच्नुहोस् ।To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine in Arabic, call 833-660-2416 and press 3
للحصول على موعد( للقاح فيروس كوفيد-19) باللغة العربية,اتصل بالرقم 2416-660-833 ومن ثم اضغط رقمTo schedule your COVID-19 vaccine in Vietnamese, call 833-660-2416 and press 4
De lay hen chich thuoc ngua bang tieng Viet Nam, Xin goi so 833-660-2416 roi bam so 4To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine in Mandarin, call 833-660-2416 and press 5
需要预约新冠状病毒疫苗中文服务请拨打833-660-2416, 再按5。To schedule your COVID-19 vaccine in Russian, call 833-660-2416 and press 6
Регистрация на вакцинацию Ковид- 19 на русском языке, позвоните по номеру 833-660-2416 и нажмите 6
Click on the "Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine" link above and follow the directions below:
COVID-19 Vaccines in New York State:
New York residents may call 833-697-4829 or visit ny.gov/vaccine for more information on vaccine distribution in their state. If you are a New York state resident in Chautauqua County, you can call 866-604-6789 visit chqgov.com for county-specific vaccine distribution information.
COVID-19 Vaccines in Maryland State:
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination at UPMC Western Maryland. Maryland residents may call 855-MD-GoVAX (855-634-6829) or visit covidlink.maryland.gov for more information on vaccine distribution in their state.
There is much information circulating about the COVID-19 vaccines. Find the answer to some of the most frequently asked vaccine questions.
COVID-19 Frequently Asked QuestionsAs COVID-19 vaccine distribution occurs, we are committed to keeping you updated and informed. We also encourage you to sign up for one of UPMC’s patient portals where your doctor can communicate with you about vaccination.
Western MD residents can view the available patient portals here.
To learn more, visit UPMC HealthBeat.
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