Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine

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The COVID-19 vaccine can prevent COVID-19 symptoms and severe COVID-19 illness.

All people age 6 months and older, regardless of residency or immigration status, are eligible to receive a vaccine in NYC. 

The vaccine is free for all. If you have insurance, it may be billed, but you will not be charged a copay or other fee.

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Three COVID-19 vaccines are available in the U.S.:

  • Pfizer BioNTech (also known as Comirnaty, which is pronounced "koe-mir-na-tee")
  • Moderna
  • Johnson and Johnson

Adults 18 and older can get the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Children 6 months to 17 years may only receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Not all vaccine sites serve both children and adults or offer every vaccine type for each age group.

The vaccines are administered through shots in the arm.

Minors

Parents should talk to their doctor or other health care provider if they have concerns or questions specific to their child's own medical situation.   

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, including written consent for appointments, you can contact the Vaccine Reservation Call Center.

  • Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Division: Vaccine Reservation Call Center
  • Phone Number: (877) 829-4692
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

 

 

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With the COVID-19 Vaccine Finder, you can find vaccination sites, mobile buses, and pop-ups closest to you that:

  • Accept walk-ups
  • Offer or require appointments
  • Are accessible for people with disabilities
  • Provide a specific vaccine type

No Internet Access

If you don’t have internet access, you can schedule an appointment with the Vaccine Reservation Call Center. However, the reservation center can ONLY schedule an appointment for Health + Hospitals and NYC Department of Health vaccination sites.

Translators are available.

  • Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Division: Vaccine Reservation Call Center
  • Phone Number: (877) 829-4692
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

 

 

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Before You Go

Before you can get a vaccine, you must:

1) Bring a document showing proof of age, such as a:

  • Driver’s license or non-driver ID
  • IDNYC card
  • Birth certificate issued by a state or local government
  • Current U.S passport or valid foreign passport
  • Permanent resident card
  • Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
  • Life insurance policy with birthdate
  • Marriage certificate with birthdate

2) Provide written or verbal consent if your child is getting the vaccine:

  • A parent or guardian must provide consent for their child to be vaccinated in person, by phone or in writing, depending on the vaccination site. They will not need to provide proof they are the child's parent or guardian.
  • Children ages 15 and younger should be accompanied to the vaccination site by a parent or guardian, or another adult caregiver designated by the parent or guardian.

After You Get the Vaccine

After you get vaccinated at a City or State site, you'll be given a card with the following:

  • Your name, date of birth, and medical record number (if you have one)
  • Name of the vaccine you were given
  • Date and place you got the shot

If you get a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, you should schedule a second-dose appointment before you leave.

Cancel or Reschedule an Appointment

Vaccine appointments at City-run sites may be rescheduled due to vaccine shortages or severe weather. If you are impacted, the City will call and email you with a new date and time to show up for your appointment.

If you need to reschedule or cancel a vaccine appointment, contact the site where you scheduled your appointment.

If you have an appointment with an NYC Health + Hospitals or NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) site, you can cancel or reschedule your appointment with the Vaccine Reservation Call Center.

If you have a DOHMH appointment, you can also reschedule or cancel your appointment online.

  • Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Division: Vaccine Reservation Call Center
  • Phone Number: (877) 829-4692
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

 

 

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Second Doses

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses. Both doses should be of the same vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one dose. 

At your appointment for the first Pfizer or Moderna dose, you should schedule a second-dose appointment. If you left without scheduling the second appointment, you should contact the site where you got your first shot for additional information.

If you got your first dose from an NYC Health + Hospitals or NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) site, you can confirm your scheduled appointment or make a second appointment with the Vaccine Reservation Call Center.

If you got your first dose from DOHMH, you can also schedule a second-dose appointment online.

  • Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Division: Vaccine Reservation Call Center
  • Phone Number: (877) 829-4692
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

 

 

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Booster Shots

The updated COVID-19 vaccine boosters are recommended for everyone 6 months and older. They are called "bivalent" booster vaccines because half of the dose is specifically targeting the omicron subvariants that account for nearly all recent infections in NYC. These boosters increase your immunity from your initial vaccination series and previous boosters.

You can get your updated bivalent booster if it has been at least two months since your most recent COVID-19 vaccine dose.

People ages 6 and older can get either the Pfizer or Moderna booster, regardless of which brand of vaccine they previously received. Children age 5 can get only the Pfizer booster. Children age 6 months to 4 years can only get the Moderna booster.

If you recently had COVID-19, you can wait to get a booster until 90 days after you first felt symptoms, or, if you had no symptoms, 90 days after your test date. If you are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 or of getting COVID-19 again, get a booster as soon as you are eligible. Talk to your medical provider about when you should get your next vaccine.

Further Assistance

You can talk with a nurse if you need more information and answers to questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and booster.

If you aren't sure if you are eligible you can discuss with your medical provider.

  • Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Division: Vaccine Reservation Call Center
  • Phone Number: (877) 829-4692
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

 

 

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Third Dose for People with a Weakened Immune System

Separate from boosters, people ages 5 and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (meaning they have a weakened immune system) should get a third vaccine dose, as part of their primary vaccine series.

This shot is intended to help people who may not have had a strong response to the first two shots due to a medical condition or treatment.

People who are immunocompromised can get a third dose 28 days after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or their single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

  • If you got the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, get the same vaccine type for your third dose.
  • If you got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you must get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for your third dose.

People ages 12 and older who receive this shot should also get at least one booster when eligible.

Learn more about third doses.

You should speak with your health care provider if you have questions about third dose eligibility. 

You can also talk with a nurse by phone if you need more information and answers to questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, including third dose eligibility.

  • Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Division: Vaccine Reservation Call Center
  • Phone Number: (877) 829-4692
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

 

 

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You may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the New York City Health Department’s COVID-19 vaccination program.

Requests for accommodations should be made as soon as possible before scheduling a vaccination appointment at your preferred City site in New York.

You may also visit a vaccination site without an appointment for immediate service.

Each City-run vaccination site:

  • Has an accessible entrance and exit, restroom and pathway to the vaccination area.
  • Is equipped with video translation services for more than 240 languages including American Sign Language.
  • Has at least one Disability Access and Functional Needs (DAFN) Coordinator who can help you during your visit.

Most sites will not require you to complete any paper documentation during your visit. If paper documentation is required, the DAFN Coordinator will be there to provide help.

You may bring a companion, personal care attendant, personal care aide, family member, or other person to help you during your appointment. This can include someone who can interpret for you.

You may also bring a service animal or mobility device such as a wheelchair or walker.

Online

You can email your request for a reasonable accommodation to hubaccess@health.nyc.gov.

You can also go to the Disability Access page to learn more about requesting reasonable accommodations.

By Phone

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for assistance.

You can schedule transportation to your vaccine appointment if you are 65 or older and:

  • Cannot use public transportation,
  • Cannot use private transportation, and
  • Cannot rely on friends or family members for transport.

You must already have a vaccine appointment before scheduling transportation. However, you do not need an appointment for City-run vaccination sites.

If you are between the ages of 60 and 64, visit the Transportation for Seniors page instead for other transportation options.

Access-a-Ride

If you already use Access-a-Ride, you can schedule transportation to your appointment as you normally would.

  • Agency: Metropolitan Transportation Authority
  • Division: Access-A-Ride
  • Phone Number: (718) 393-4999
  • Business Hours: Daily: 7 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Spanish. If you get a busy signal, call (877) 337-2017.

Medicaid

If you have Medicaid-provided transportation, you can use your usual contact number to schedule transport. You can also call Medicaid Transportation Management.

  • Agency: Medicaid Transportation Management
  • Phone Number: (844) 666-6270
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

Private Businesses

There is no workplace vaccine mandate for private businesses in New York City.

The Key to NYC vaccine mandate ended on March 7, 2022. The program required employees and customers of indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment venues to prove they were vaccinated.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) workplace vaccine mandate for all private businesses in New York City ended on November 1, 2022.

Businesses can still require proof of vaccination or masking indoors if they choose.

Schools and Child Care

As of February 10, 2023, COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required for staff at:

  • Public schools
  • Charter schools
  • Private schools
  • Child care and after school programs

City Workers

As of February 10, 2023, COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees.

Learn more about the end of the vaccine mandate.

Healthcare Workers

In New York State, all healthcare workers, including staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities that are public or private, were required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as of September 27, 2021.

These facilities include: 

  • Adult care 
  • Hospitals
  • Nursing homes
  • Other congregate care settings

The State Department of Health requires these facilities to develop and implement a policy mandating employee vaccination, with limited exceptions for those with religious or medical reasons.

You should contact your employer’s human resources department for more information.

Side Effects

You should call your health care provider if you have side effects that concern you or do not go away after a few days, or if the redness or soreness where you got the shot increases after 24 hours. 

You can also report side effects to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), managed by the CDC and Food and Drug Administration. 

Reports can be made online or by phone. The information you report will be kept confidential.

Online

Report side effects to VAERS.

By Phone

  • Agency: Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
  • Phone Number: (800) 822-7967
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Additional Assistance

You can talk with a nurse if you need more information and answers to questions about the vaccine.

  • Agency: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Division: Vaccine Reservation Call Center
  • Phone Number: (877) 829-4692
  • Business Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

 

 

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You can give feedback about policies, services, and staff of the City’s COVID-19 vaccine program.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for assistance.

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