If you need a copy of your vaccine record, you should first contact the place where you were vaccinated.
You can also access your records through IDPH's immunization portal, Vax Verify. Vax Verify now includes the SMARTTM Health Card, an easy way to share your COVID-19 vaccination status. The SMARTTM Health Card allows users to download a QR code which individuals can use to easily confirm their COVID-19 vaccination status at businesses, events, and other locations.
For more information on the Vax Verify portal, please visit IDPH'S Vax Verify web page. You can access the Vax Verify portal directly.
A: The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks.
Children who get COVID-19 can get very sick, can require treatment in a hospital, and in rare situations, can even die. After getting COVID-19, children and teens can also experience a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems. Getting eligible children vaccinated can help prevent them from getting really sick even if they do get infected and help prevent serious short- and long-term complications of COVID-19.
Vaccinating children can also keep them in school and daycare and safely participating in sports, playdates, and other group activities. Click here for more information.
A: COVID-19 can make children and teens of any age very sick and sometimes requires treatment in a hospital. In rare situations, the complications from COVID-19 can lead to death. There is no way to tell in advance how children will be affected by COVID-19. Although children with underlying medical conditions are more likely to get severe COVID-19, healthy children without underlying conditions can also experience severe illness.
After getting COVID-19, children and teens can also experience a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems. These post-COVID conditions can be physical or mental, last for weeks and affect quality of life. Click here for more information.
A: Emerging evidence indicates that people can get added protection by getting vaccinated after having been infected with COVID-19. So, even if a child has had COVID-19, they should still get vaccinated.
A: Yes
Before recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children, scientists conducted clinical trials with thousands of children to make sure vaccination was safe and effective.
Tens of millions of children and teens ages 5 through 17 years have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and ongoing safety monitoring shows that COVID-19 vaccination continues to be safe for children and teens.
Reported side effects tend to be mild, temporary and like those experienced after routine vaccination. Serious reactions after COVID-19 vaccination in children are rare. When they are reported, serious reactions most frequently occur the day after vaccination.
A: No. There is no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, can cause female or male fertility problems. There is no evidence that vaccine ingredients, including mRNA, or antibodies made following COVID-19 vaccination would cause any problems with becoming pregnant now or in the future. Similarly, there is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine affects puberty.
People over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster 4 months after their prior dose to increase their protection further. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time Note that Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (COVID-19 mRNA vaccines) are preferred. Talk to your provider about your specific concerns.
Being Up to date on your vaccines means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible.
Fully vaccinated means a person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have followed the current recommendations listed below. The recommendations will be different depending on your age, your health status, and when you first got vaccinated. Click here for a printable flier with the information.
Many people who are immunocompromised may need an additional dose as part of their primary vaccine series.
Note that booster shots are not recommended for everyone at this time.
| Pfizer-BioNTech | Moderna | Johnson & Johnson | |
| Ages Recommended | 5+ | 18+ | 18+ |
| Primary Series | 2 doses, 3 wks apart | 2 doses, 4 wks apart | 1 dose |
| Fully Vaccinated | 2 wks after final dose in primary series | 2 wks after final dose in primary series | 2 weeks after 1st dose |
| Booster Dose | Everyone ages 12+ should get a booster dose at least 5 months after the last dose in their primary series. Teens 12–17 should only get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine booster | Everyone ages 18+ should get a booster dose of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) at least 5 months after the last dose in their primary series. | Everyone ages 18+ should get a booster dose of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) at least 2 months after the first dose of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. |
| 2nd Booster Dose | Those 50 and older who had their first booster at least 4 months ago | Those 50 and older who had their first booster at least 4 months ago | Those 50 and older who had their first booster at least 4 months ago |
Estar al día con sus vacunas significa que una persona ha recibido todas las vacunas de COVID-19 recomendadas, incluyendo la(s) dosis de refuerzo cuando sea elegible.
Completamente vacunado significa que una persona ha recibido su serie primaria de vacunas contra el COVID-19.
Usted está al día con sus vacunas de COVID-19 cuando ha seguido las recomendaciones actuales que se enumeran abajo. Las recomendaciones serán diferentes dependiendo de su edad, su estado de salud, y cuándo se vacunó por primera vez.
Muchas Personas inmunocomprometidas pueden necesitar una dosis adicional como parte de su serie primaria de vacunas.
| Pfizer-BioNTech | Moderna | Johnson & Johnson | |
| Edad Recomendada | 5+ | 18+ | 18+ |
| Serie Primaria | 2 dosis con 3 semanas de diferenci | 2 dosis con 4 semanas de diferencia | 1 dosis |
| Cuándo soy considerado "completamente vacunado"? | 2 semanas después de la dosis final en la serie primaria | 2 semanas después de la dosis final en la serie primaria | 2 semanas después de la primera dosis |
| Dosis de Refuerzo | Todas las personas mayores de 12 años deben recibir una dosis de refuerzo al menos 5 meses después de la última dosis de su serie primaria. Los adolescentes de 12 a 17 años solo deben recibir una dosis de refuerzo de la vacuna contra el COVID-19 de Pfizer-BioNTech | Todas las personas mayores de 18 años deben recibir una dosis de refuerzo bien sea de Pfizer-BioNTech o Moderna (vacunas de tipo mRNA contra el COVID-19) al menos 5 meses después de la última dosis de su serie primaria. | Todas las personas mayores de 18 años deben recibir una dosis de refuerzo bien sea de Pfizer-BioNTech o Moderna (vacunas de tipo mRNA contra el COVID-19) al menos 2 meses después de la primera dosis de la vacuna J & J/Janssen contra |
| 2da Dosis de Refuerzo | Personas mayores de 50 años que recibieron su primer refuerzo hace al menos 4 meses | Personas mayores de 50 años que recibieron su primer refuerzo hace al menos 4 meses | Personas mayores de 50 años que recibieron su primer refuerzo hace al menos 4 meses |
Être à jour sur vos vaccins signifie qu'une personne a reçu tous les vaccins COVID-19 recommandés, y compris toute dose de rappel lorsqu'elle est éligible.
Entièrement vacciné signifie qu'une personne a reçu sa première série de vaccins contre la COVID-19.
Vous êtes à jour de vos vaccins COVID-19 lorsque vous avez suivi les recommandations actuelles listées ci-dessous. Les recommandations seront différentes selon votre âge, votre état de santé et la date à laquelle vous avez été vacciné pour la première fois.
Les personnes immunodéprimées peuvent avoir besoin d'une dose supplémentaire dans le cadre de leur série de vaccins primaires.
| Pfizer-BioNTech | Moderna | Johnson & Johnson | |
| Âges recommandés | 5+ | 18+ | 18+ |
| Première série | 2 doses à 3 semaines d'intervalle | 2 doses à 4 semaines d'intervalle | 1 dose |
| Quand suis-je considéré comme "complètement vacciné" ? | 2 semaines après la dernière dose de la première série | 2 semaines après la dernière dose de la première série | 2 semaines après la première dose |
| Dose de rappel | Toute personne âgée de 12 ans et plus devrait recevoir une dose de rappel au moins 5 mois après la dernière dose de sa première série. Les adolescents de 12 à 17 ans ne devraient recevoir qu'un rappel de vaccin Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 | Toute personne âgée de 18 ans et plus devrait recevoir une dose de rappel de Pfizer-BioNTech ou de Moderna (vaccins à ARNm COVID-19) au moins 5 mois après la dernière dose de leur première série. | Toute personne âgée de 18 ans et plus devrait recevoir une dose de rappel de Pfizer-BioNTech ou de Moderna (vaccins à ARNm COVID-19) au moins 2 mois après la première dose du vaccin J&J/Janssen COVID-19. |
| 2e dose de rappel | Ceux qui ont 50 ans et plus et qui ont eu leur premier rappel il y a au moins 4 mois | Ceux qui ont 50 ans et plus et qui ont eu leur premier rappel il y a au moins 4 mois | Ceux qui ont 50 ans et plus et qui ont eu leur premier rappel il y a au moins 4 mois |
A person is considered “boosted” and up to date right after getting their booster dose!
After testing positive for COVID-19, you will need to postpone getting vaccinated until your symptoms have resolved and you've met the criteria for discontinuing isolation. This time can vary by person, depending on your symptom severity and the treatments you may have received.
Someone with an asymptomatic COVID-19 case can get vaccinated as soon as their isolation ends — 5 days after testing positive. You don't need a negative viral test before vaccination
One caveat: If you received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you will need to wait 90 days before getting the vaccine.
A: You should still get your booster shot, even if you’re in tip-top shape. With omicron and possibly other variants, two doses of an mRNA vaccine may not be enough to protect you from infection or severe disease. Additionally, if you do catch COVID, being boosted can help you get back on your feet faster, and will likely keep you out of the hospital.
A: Even with the extra immunity from having had COVID, evidence shows that a booster will provide the added protection needed to reduce the risk of infection with less risk. Additionally, we don’t know how long the immunity one gets from having caught COVID lasts.
A: In short, no. If you get two shots of an mRNA vaccine like Pfizer, you can get a booster from Moderna and vice versa. However, if you received only one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, there’s evidence that you could gain higher protection from getting an mRNA booster. If it’s been at least three months from your J&J shot, you could opt for the double dose of Pfizer or Moderna to really secure a high level of immunity.
A: Some people notice no side effects, and some have similar or slightly more intense side effects than their first two doses. Current data indicates that side effects following the booster shot are similar to those after the second dose. Common side effects are generally mild such as localized pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, and fatigue, headache, and low-grade fever. Serious adverse events are rare.
It is always safest to wear a mask. COVID-19 is still infecting thousands of people every day including elderly, adults, teens and children. Regardless of whether masks are required in your area, you and your family will be safest if you wear a mask.
Masks must be worn properly to be effective. Be sure to wear your mask over your nose and mouth and make sure no air leaks out of the top or the sides.
More information on wearing a mask in English, Spanish, French and Chinese.
