COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Guide
Eligibility information about booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine
Overview
CDC recommends that people ages 12 years and older receive one updated (bivalent) booster if it has been at least 2 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose, whether that was:
- Their final primary series dose, or
- An original (monovalent) booster.
People who have had more than one original (monovalent) booster are also recommended to get an updated (bivalent) booster.
Learn more on the State of Missouri Vaccine Navigator website or call (877) 435-8411.
For COVID-19 related questions, call (314) 657-1499 or email health@stlouis-mo.gov.
On This Page
Updated (Bivalent) Boosters
The updated (bivalent) boosters are called “bivalent” because they protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5.
Previous boosters are called “monovalent” because they were designed to protect against the original virus that causes COVID-19. They also provide some protection against Omicron, but not as much as the updated (bivalent) boosters.
When Are You Up to Date?
You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC.
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are based on three things:
- Your age
- The vaccine you first received, and
- The length of time since your last dose
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
You are still up to date if you receive all COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended for you and then become ill with COVID-19. You do not need to be immediately revaccinated or receive an additional booster.
If you recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying your next vaccine dose (whether a primary dose or booster) by 3 months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you first received a positive test.