There are differences between the vaccine types, but all three vaccines currently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are highly effective based on trials. If you are aged 6 months to 17 years, the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 are the only FDA authorized vaccine you to received. Adults can receive any of the three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson.

Vaccine type:    Age Requirements   Doses required Recommended Time Between Doses 
 Pediatric Pfizer  6 months – 4 years  3  21 days between 1st and 2nd, then 56 days between 2nd and 3rd
 Pediatric Pfizer: mRNA vaccine  5 – 11 years
  2
  21 days 
 Pfizer: mRNA vaccine  12+  2   21 days
 Pediatric Moderna: mRNA vaccine  6 months – 17 years  2  28 days
 Moderna: mRNA vaccine   18+   2   28 days
 Johnson & Johnson: Viral vector vaccine   18+   1   N/A

 

You can talk with your medical provider if you have specific questions or concerns that may lead you to want to seek out one specific COVID-19 vaccine versus another. If you are aged 6 months to 17 years old, you may only receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

 

View the FDA fact sheets on each vaccine:
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet