COVID-19 Vaccination (2024)

COVID-19 vaccine recommendations have been updated as of October 3, 2023 to add 2023-2024 updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. The content on this page will be updated to align with the new recommendations.Learn more.

• Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
  Synopsis: CDC and FDA safety monitoring of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) identified 21 reports of anaphylaxis from the 1.89 million first doses of the vaccine administered from December 14 through 23, 2020, corresponding to an estimated rate of 11.1 cases per million doses administered; 17 of those cases (81%) had a history of allergies or allergic reactions. No deaths from anaphylaxis were reported.
• Reports of Anaphylaxis After Receipt of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines in the US—December 14, 2020-January 18, 2021
  Synopsis: From December 14, 2020, through January 18, 2021, CDC safety monitoring of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in VAERS identified 66 reports of anaphylaxis: 47 cases following receipt of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 19 cases following receipt of the Moderna vaccine. No deaths from anaphylaxis were reported. Continued safety monitoring of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines has confirmed that anaphylaxis following vaccination is rare.
• Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine— United States, December 21, 2020-January 10, 2021
  Synopsis: From December 21, 2020, through January 10, 2021, CDC safety monitoring of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in VAERS identified 10 cases of anaphylaxis from a reported 4,041,396 first doses of the vaccine, corresponding to an estimated 2.5 cases per million doses administered. In nine of those cases, anaphylaxis symptoms began within 15 minutes of vaccination. No deaths from anaphylaxis were reported.

• A Safety Study Evaluating Non-COVID-19 Mortality Risk Following COVID-19 Vaccination
  Synopsis: This study found that rates of death among people who received COVID-19 vaccines were lower than those of people who did not receive COVID-19 vaccines. In the largest study of its kind to date, the authors found no increased risk of death among people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccines.
• COVID-19 Vaccination and Non-COVID-19 Mortality Risk—Seven Integrated Health Care Organizations, United States, December 14, 2020-July 31, 2021
  Synopsis: Using data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), this study found that rates of death among people who received COVID-19 vaccines were lower than those of people who did not receive COVID-19 vaccines. The authors determined that there is no increased risk of death among COVID-19 vaccine recipients, reinforcing the safety of COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for use in the United States.
• Reporting Rates for VAERS Death Reports Following COVID-19 Vaccination, December 14, 2020-November 17, 2021
  Synopsis: The authors of this study analyzed VAERS reports of death after COVID-19 vaccination and found that rates of death after vaccination were lower than background rates of death from any cause in the general population. The findings in this study do not suggest an association between COVID-19 vaccination and overall increased rates of death.
• Safety of mRNA vaccines administered during the initial 6 months of the US COVID-19 vaccination programme: an observational study of reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System and v-safe
  Synopsis: The authors of this study reviewed the initial six months of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine safety data from December 2020 through June 2021 in VAERS and v-safe and found that the most commonly reported side effects of mRNA vaccines were mild and short in duration and that the majority of reported adverse events were not serious. The authors also reviewed death reports submitted to VAERS and found no unusual patterns of death following mRNA vaccination.

• Incidence of Myocarditis/Pericarditis Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination Among Children and Younger Adults in the United States
  Synopsis: Using VSD data, this study found that from December 14, 2020, through May 31, 2022 (for people ages 18-39 years) and from December 14, 2020, through August 20, 2022 (for people ages 5-17 years), 320 potential cases of myocarditis and pericarditis developed within 1-98 days after vaccination. Out of 320 potential cases, 224 were verified, with 137 occurring 0-7 days after vaccination: 18 after the first dose and 119 after the second dose. Adolescent males were shown to have higher incidence of myocarditis and pericarditis.
• Outcomes at least 90 days onset of myocarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in adolescents and young adults in the USA: a follow-up surveillance study
  Synopsis: This study found that approximately 80% of patients diagnosed with myocarditis after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine were considered recovered by healthcare providers at least 90 days following onset of symptoms. CDC collected the data through follow-up surveys for people ages 12-29 years for whom a report of myocarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination was made to VAERS from December 2020 through November 2021.
• Risk of myocarditis and pericarditis following BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccination
  Synopsis: The authors of this study reviewed health records of a diverse population to assess any risk of myocarditis or pericarditis associated with receiving an mRNA-1273 (Moderna) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine. From December 14, 2020, through January 15, 2022, 41 cases of myocarditis and pericarditis were reported after receipt of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and 38 were reported after receipt of the Moderna vaccine. In most cases, patients were hospitalized for one day or less, but no patients required intensive care. Both vaccines showed an increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis among young males ages 18-39 years. Risk of myocarditis and pericarditis was higher after receipt of the Moderna vaccine than after receipt of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine within 0-7 days after administration.
• Myocarditis or Pericarditis Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination
  Synopsis: This study revealed that a longer period between mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses one and two may lower the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis. Data from VSD were evaluated for reported rates of myocarditis or pericarditis after receipt of an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech). Results showed reported rates of myocarditis or pericarditis were higher after vaccination with Moderna than with Pfizer-BioNTech and were higher among adolescents and young adult males following the second dose.
• Myocarditis Cases Reported After mRNA-Based COVID-19 Vaccination in the US From December 2020 to August 2021
  Synopsis: This study found that there was a small but increased risk for myocarditis following receipt of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. After a review of reports submitted to VAERS, this study found that the risk of myocarditis was highest following the second vaccine dose among adolescents and young adult males.

• US Case Reports of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis With Thrombocytopenia After Ad26.COV2.S Vaccination, March 2 to April 21, 2021
  Synopsis: This study revealed that, of the approximately 7 million doses of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine given from March 2 through April 12, 2021, VAERS received 12 reports of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) with thrombocytopenia among women ages 18 to 59 years. All were hospitalized; 10 were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). As of April 21, 2021, 4 patients had been sent home, 2 had been moved to hospital units outside of ICU, 3 were continuing ICU care, and 3 had died. The review shows that U.S. cases of CVST and thrombocytopenia after J&J/Janssen vaccination were clinically similar to CVST cases in Europe after Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination, a similar vector vaccine as the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
• Case Series of Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome After COVID-19 Vaccination—United States, December 2020 to August 2021
  Synopsis: Clinicians from the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Project reviewed VAERS reports of TTS following COVID-19 vaccination. Of over 14.1 million doses of J&J/Janssen vaccine and 351 million doses of mRNA vaccines administered from December 14, 2020, through August 31, 2021, CISA confirmed 57 reports of TTS: 54 following receipt of the J&J/Janssen vaccine and 3 following receipt of mRNA vaccines. Most cases of TTS following J&J/Janssen vaccination occurred in females and in people younger than 50 years, and all cases involved hospitalization. The reporting rate of TTS cases after J&J/Janssen vaccination was 3.83 per one million doses administered, whereas the rate following mRNA vaccination was consistent with the background rate of TTS (.0085 per million doses administered). This analysis concluded that TTS is a rare but serious adverse event associated with J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination.
• Updates on Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)[1.3 MB, 39 Pages]
  Synopsis: This December 16, 2021 CDC presentation to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) showed that the TTS case reporting rate (3.8 per one million doses) following J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. was higher than that previously presented. Reporting rates for men ages 40-49 years and for women ages 50-64 years were similar to women ages 18-29 years (about 4-5 per one million doses). U.S. TTS deaths following J&J/Janssen vaccination had typical features of severe CVST and were more common than those known during previous presentations to ACIP. The TTS death reporting rate was approximately 2 per one million doses in women ages 30-49 years, and the proportion of TTS cases involving death did not decrease after the J&J/Janssen vaccination pause.
• Use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine: Updated Interim Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices – United States, December 2021
  Synopsis: Cases of TTS and GBS have been reported after receiving the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. On December 16, 2021, after reviewing updated vaccine effectiveness and safety data, ACIP made a preferential recommendation for mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) COVID-19 vaccines over the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 18 years and older in the United States.