COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Information from NYC Department of Health - January 2022
Booster Shots Available for 12 and Older
Vaccine booster shots are now authorized for everyone 12 and older who is fully vaccinated.
If you were recently sick or tested positive for COVID-19, you can get your booster shot after your isolation period ends.
Vaccine Stories
Get Vaccinated Today
It has never been easier to get a COVID-19 vaccination in NYC. People 5 and older are eligible for vaccination. Vaccines are available at no cost to you and regardless of immigration status. They are required for many public indoor activities in NYC.
Learn about the benefits of vaccination.
To find a vaccination site near you, use the City’s Vaccine Finder (not accessible with Internet Explorer).
You can also call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) to schedule an appointment at certain sites or request an at-home vaccination appointment, as well as get other vaccination assistance.
Before you get your vaccination, be sure to follow these requirements:
- Check that you have proof of age.
- Complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form before your appointment.
- Reschedule if you are not feeling well on the day of your appointment.
- Wear a mask to your appointment. You will not be admitted to the site without one.
Vaccines are a critical tool in protecting you and your community from severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization and death. They are proven safe and are now protecting millions of vaccinated New Yorkers from COVID-19.
Vaccination is safer than risking illness and long-term side effects from COVID-19. Even people who have had COVID-19 in the past should still get vaccinated.
When You Are Fully Vaccinated
After you are fully vaccinated (two weeks after your single-dose vaccine or second dose of a two-dose vaccine), you are less likely to get or spread COVID-19.
Other benefits of vaccination:
- All activities become safer.
- You can take off your mask in some settings:
- Masks are still required in schools, on public transportation, in health care settings and in certain congregate settings, such as nursing homes and homeless shelters, and at any other setting if designated by a business or location.
- We recommend wearing a mask in all public indoor settings and crowded outdoor settings, even when it is not required.
- Keep your mask on if you are around people who are unvaccinated or at increased risk for severe COVID-19.
Even after you are vaccinated, you should still stay home if you are sick or test positive for COVID-19.
If you have a condition or are taking medicines that weaken your immune system, you may not be protected even if you are fully vaccinated. You should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people until advised otherwise by your health care provider.
Vaccine Authorized for Children
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children ages 5 to 11. The vaccine dose for this age group is smaller than the dose given to people 12 and older.
Children can get vaccinated at their doctor’s office, pharmacies and vaccine sites across the city.
A parent or guardian must provide consent for their child to be vaccinated in person or by phone. They will not need to provide proof they are the child’s parent or guardian.
Some providers, including all City-run sites, will accept proof of consent in writing. However, in-person or phone consent is preferred.
All minors who are 5 to 15 should be accompanied to the vaccination site by a parent or guardian, or another adult caregiver designated by the parent/guardian.
The parent or guardian must also have a completed New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form.
Free Transportation and In-Home Vaccinations
City residents 65 and older can get free transportation to and from a vaccination appointment. This service is also available for those with disabilities who have no other way to get to a vaccination site.
To schedule free transport by either ambulette or taxi (including wheelchair accessible vehicles), call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692). If you are younger than 18, you must have your parent or guardian call to book the trip on your behalf.
You can also sign up online for an in-home vaccination or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692). Anyone 12 or older is eligible for in-home vaccination.
Booster Shots
Vaccine booster shots are now available for all fully vaccinated people 12 and older. These shots boost your immunity from an initial vaccination series.
We recommend a booster shot for any adult who received the second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least five months ago, or the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago. People with weakened immune systems who received a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should get a booster shot at least five months after their third dose.
Your booster shot can be any of the three authorized or approved vaccines. We recommend you get either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for your booster shot, unless you are unable to do so. If you have questions, talk to your health care provider or call 311.
Additional Resources
- Patients’ Bill of Rights for Diagnostic and Treatment Centers (Clinics) (PDF)
Other Languages: Español | Русский | 繁體中文 | Kreyòl ayisyen | 한국어 | Italiano
- Patients’ Bill of Rights for Diagnostic and Treatment Centers (Clinics) (PDF)