COVID-19 Vaccine

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Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines

Everyone 6 months and older should get one dose of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least two months since their last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. This year’s vaccines protect against serious illness from more current strains of the virus.

Some people may need additional doses, including:

People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
Children under 5, depending on timing and previous COVID-19 vaccinations.

Three COVID-19 vaccines were updated for 2023-2024—Pfizer and Moderna and Novavax for those 12 years of age and older who are unable or choose not to get Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Please note, there is very limited supply of Novavax vaccine in Vermont.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines (CDC)

Know your rights when getting vaccines.

You do NOT need insurance to get vaccinated. You may be asked if you have insurance for reimbursement reasons, but you cannot be denied vaccination if you have no insurance. See where to get vaccinated in Vermont
You do NOT need to share a Social Security Number or driver’s license/state ID number. In Vermont, you are not required to provide that information and you cannot be turned away from getting vaccinated if you do not provide identification. If you do provide it, it will be used only for the pharmacy's reimbursement purposes.
You do NOT need to be a U.S. citizen. Everyone can receive COVID-19 services, regardless of immigration status. Information you share will not be shared with immigration services and vaccinations paid for by the federal government will not impact anyone’s current or future immigration status.

Learn more at Vermont Health Equity Initiative

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Find COVID-19 Vaccines

The 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out to primary care practices, pharmacies, local health offices and other locations across Vermont. Please check with the location where you get your other routine vaccines—like flu shots—when you make an appointment.

COVID-19 vaccines are still provided at no cost to you, but now the way they are paid for is more like other vaccines.

For most people, their health insurance will cover the cost of getting vaccinated.
For people who do not have health insurance, or who have insurance that does not cover the cost of vaccines (less common), the Vermont Immunization Program or the CDC’s temporary Bridge Access Program can cover the cost.

Anyone can get vaccinated in Vermont, including those who live in another state, are non-U.S. citizens, or who have no insurance.

Find vaccine locations at Vaccines.gov

Children Insured by Medicaid

Now children ages 3 and older who are insured by Medicaid can get no-cost COVID-19 vaccines at Vermont pharmacies.

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Adults 65+ With Insurance

Adults ages 65 and older should contact their local pharmacies to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Health care providers may also have COVID-19 vaccines for this age group—please confirm with your doctor’s office.

Adults 18+ With No Insurance

Adults ages 18 and older with no insurance or insurance that does not cover the cost of vaccines, look for vaccine locations listed as “Participating in the Bridge Access Program” to be sure there are no administrative fees for getting vaccinated. Locations are being added regularly.

Help Getting Vaccinated

Anyone without health insurance can get vaccinated by appointment at local health offices. Local health offices can also help vaccinate those under age 65 with health insurance if they are not able to get vaccinated through other locations due to lack of transportation or other barriers. Please note, there is very limited supply of Novavax vaccine in Vermont.

Need a ride? If you do not have transportation to get a COVID-19 vaccine, please contact your local public transportation provider or call Vermont Public Transportation Association (VPTA) at 833-387-7200.

English language learners, or immigrant or refugee community members, who would like to learn more about vaccine clinics can contact the Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV) at 802-985-3106.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why aren’t there state-run vaccine clinics anymore?

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, large-scale vaccination clinics were the best way to meet the high demand and need for COVID-19 vaccines.

The Public Health Emergency ended in May 2023 and COVID-19 vaccines have changed to be more like other routine vaccines. This means that COVID-19 vaccines are available at doctors' offices, pharmacies, local health offices and other places where you get your vaccines. It also means that like other routine vaccines, there is no longer federal funding to support large-scale vaccination clinics.

Why is it taking longer than before for vaccines to be available?

You might notice that the process of getting COVID-19 vaccines this season is a bit different from the past few years. Now that the Public Health Emergency has ended, the process for getting and distributing vaccines has changed to be more like other routine vaccines.

When vaccines are approved and recommended for use, Vermont gets a set amount of vaccine from the federal government. The number of vaccines is based on availability and state population size. The timing of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine approvals was later in the year compared to flu vaccines. Vaccine manufacturers are still scaling up production of this year’s COVID-19 vaccine to meet the need.

Vaccine locations can then order vaccines from the Vermont Vaccine Program. Some pharmacies get vaccines directly from the federal government (for example, Walgreens and CVS).

Vaccines are sent out to different vaccination locations, including doctors’ offices, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and mobile vaccination units.

Why can’t I get the brand of COVID-19 vaccine that I want?

You may be having difficulty finding your preferred brand of COVID-19 vaccines because vaccine supply is still somewhat limited. We recommend getting vaccinated with the vaccine that is available. All approved COVID-19 vaccines have undergone rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness.

If you have had a previous reaction to a specific brand or can't get a certain vaccine for medical reasons, please talk to your health care provider. Thank you for your patience while more vaccines arrive in Vermont in the coming weeks.

The CDC recommends children ages 6 months through 4 years get the same brand of COVID-19 vaccines. However, if that vaccine brand is limited, children can get a different brand of vaccine.

When is the best time to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

If you have never had a COVID vaccine before, you should get the vaccine as soon as possible, even if you have had COVID-19 before.

Everyone 6 months and older should follow COVID-19 vaccine dose recommendations from the CDC. These recommendations are based on extensive data that found the right vaccines doses needed to create the needed immune response for each age group. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions.

Other considerations:

If you have recently recovered from COVID-19, you may consider delaying your vaccine by three months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you received a positive test.
After your primary vaccine series, it is recommended to wait at least two months from your last dose before getting additional vaccine doses.

Why should I get another COVID-19 vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccines are working well  to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death. However, public health experts are seeing reduced protection over time against mild and moderate disease, especially among certain populations. This is why vaccination recommendations are updated. Vaccine formulas are also being updated to give protection against more current strains of the virus that are circulating in the U.S.

Find more information at CDC

Are the COVID-19 vaccines for children the same as the ones for adults?

The COVID-19 vaccines for children have the same active ingredients as the vaccines given to adults. However, young children get a smaller dose that is right for them. The smaller doses were thoroughly tested and found to create the needed immune response for each age group. This means it's important for your child to get the vaccine made for their age group. COVID-19 vaccine dosage is based on the child's age the day of vaccination, not on size or weight. This is also true for other routinely recommended vaccines, like hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines. Find more information at CDC

How can I get a new vaccine card or get my vaccine records?

If you lost your vaccine card or your information is wrong:

You may be able to get a new CDC COVID-19 vaccination card at the pharmacy or health care provider’s practice where you were vaccinated. Not all pharmacies or providers provide this service.
Vermont Immunization Registry (IMR) can give you a copy of your vaccination record by mail (within a week) or secure email (within two business days). NOTE: The IMR and CDC cannot issue you a new white CDC COVID-19 vaccination card or provide QR codes. Instructions on how to request vaccine records

How can I keep my vaccine card and record up to date?

Keep your vaccine card in a safe place so you don't lose it, like in your wallet or stored with other important documents. You can also take a picture of it with your smartphone.
Do not laminate your vaccine card. The ink on your card could run when heat is applied making it difficult to read. Also, additional doses will not be able to be recorded if the card is laminated.
If vaccinated in another state, check with your doctor that your vaccination is on record. This will ensure that both your medical records are updated, and your vaccine is recorded in the Vermont Immunization Registry.