Who Can Get COVID-19 Vaccine: Complete Eligibility Guide

Can I Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19?

Yes, most people can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are approved for nearly everyone aged 6 months and older. The only absolute contraindication is a documented severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the same vaccine type or to a known vaccine component. Other allergies, medical conditions, and medications are generally not barriers to vaccination.

COVID-19 vaccination has become one of the most widely available and thoroughly studied medical interventions in history. With billions of doses administered worldwide, we have extensive data confirming that the vaccines are safe and effective for the vast majority of the population. If you're wondering whether you can get vaccinated, the answer is almost certainly yes.

The question of vaccine eligibility has evolved significantly since vaccines first became available. Initially, limited supply meant that vaccination was restricted to healthcare workers and the highest-risk groups. Today, supply constraints have largely been resolved in most countries, and eligibility has expanded to include nearly everyone aged 6 months and older. This broad eligibility reflects the strong safety profile demonstrated across diverse populations.

Understanding who can get vaccinated is important not only for individuals making personal health decisions but also for families, caregivers, and communities working to protect vulnerable members. The following sections address specific populations and circumstances that often raise questions about vaccine eligibility.

General Population

The general adult population without specific health concerns is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Healthy adults of all ages benefit from vaccination, which provides protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. While younger, healthy adults may face lower risks from COVID-19 compared to older adults, vaccination still provides meaningful protection and reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to more vulnerable individuals.

Updated vaccines are recommended even for those who have been previously vaccinated or have had COVID-19, as immunity wanes over time and newer variants may partially evade immunity from older vaccines or prior infection. Staying current with vaccination provides the best protection against circulating strains of the virus.

Who Should Especially Get Vaccinated?

High-risk groups who especially benefit from vaccination include: adults over 65, people with chronic conditions (diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease), immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, healthcare workers, and residents of long-term care facilities. These groups face higher risks from COVID-19 and are prioritized for vaccination.

While COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for nearly everyone, certain groups face significantly higher risks from COVID-19 infection and therefore have even more to gain from vaccination. Health authorities worldwide have identified these priority groups based on extensive data about disease severity and outcomes across different populations.

For these high-risk groups, the benefits of vaccination are particularly clear. The risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 substantially outweighs any potential risks from vaccination. Additionally, these groups may be recommended to receive more frequent booster doses to maintain optimal protection, as their immune responses may wane more quickly or may be less robust initially.

Older Adults

Age is the single strongest risk factor for severe COVID-19. Adults over 65 face dramatically higher rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, and death from COVID-19 compared to younger adults. The risk increases further with advancing age. For this reason, older adults were among the first groups prioritized for vaccination and continue to be prioritized for booster doses.

Older adults respond well to COVID-19 vaccines, though their immune response may be somewhat less robust than in younger people. This is why additional doses are often recommended for this age group. The vaccines remain highly effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death in older adults, even if they may be somewhat less effective at preventing mild infection.

People with Chronic Medical Conditions

Numerous chronic health conditions increase the risk of severe COVID-19. People with these conditions should be prioritized for vaccination and should ensure they stay up to date with recommended doses. Conditions that increase COVID-19 risk include:

• Diabetes: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes significantly increase the risk of severe COVID-19, particularly when blood sugar is not well controlled
• Cardiovascular disease: Heart conditions including heart failure, coronary artery disease, and cardiomyopathies increase risk
• Chronic lung disease: COPD, asthma (moderate to severe), pulmonary fibrosis, and cystic fibrosis all increase vulnerability
• Chronic kidney disease: Particularly those on dialysis or with significantly reduced kidney function
• Obesity: BMI of 30 or higher is associated with increased COVID-19 severity
• Cancer: Active cancer and cancer treatment can increase susceptibility and severity
• Neurological conditions: Dementia and some other neurological conditions increase risk

Having one of these conditions is not a contraindication to vaccination—quite the opposite. The vaccines have been studied extensively in people with these conditions and found to be safe. The increased risk from COVID-19 infection makes vaccination particularly important for these individuals.

Can Children Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Yes, COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for children as young as 6 months old. Pediatric formulations with appropriately adjusted doses are available for different age groups. While children generally experience milder COVID-19, they can develop serious complications including MIS-C (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children). Vaccination protects children and reduces community transmission.

Parents often have questions about vaccinating their children against COVID-19. The development and authorization of pediatric COVID-19 vaccines followed rigorous clinical trials specifically designed for younger age groups. These vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective in children, and millions of children worldwide have now been vaccinated.

Children generally experience milder COVID-19 disease compared to adults, which has led some parents to question whether vaccination is necessary. However, children can and do develop severe illness, including a serious condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) that can occur weeks after infection. Additionally, vaccinating children helps protect more vulnerable family members and reduces community transmission.

Age-Specific Vaccine Formulations

COVID-19 vaccines for children are not simply smaller doses of adult vaccines. They are specifically formulated for different age groups, with doses calibrated to provide optimal immune response while minimizing side effects. The doses decrease with age:

• Ages 12 and older: Same formulation and dose as adults
• Ages 5-11: Lower dose formulation (typically one-third of adult dose)
• Ages 6 months to 4 years: Even lower dose formulation, often requiring more doses in the primary series

Parents should discuss vaccination with their child's healthcare provider, who can provide personalized guidance based on the child's health history and any specific concerns.

Can Pregnant Women Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Yes, COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended during pregnancy. Extensive studies involving hundreds of thousands of pregnant women show vaccines are safe and do not increase risks of miscarriage, birth defects, or other pregnancy complications. Pregnancy increases the risk of severe COVID-19, making vaccination particularly important. Antibodies also transfer to newborns, providing early protection.

Vaccination during pregnancy is one of the areas where evidence has been most reassuring. Initial concerns were understandable given that pregnant women were not included in the original clinical trials. However, since then, enormous amounts of data have accumulated from real-world vaccination of pregnant women, providing strong evidence of safety.

Multiple large studies involving hundreds of thousands of pregnant women have found no increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes from COVID-19 vaccination. The vaccines do not increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, birth defects, or other complications. The vaccines do not contain live virus and cannot cause COVID-19 in the mother or baby.

Why Vaccination During Pregnancy Is Important

Pregnant women who get COVID-19 face significantly higher risks compared to non-pregnant women of similar age. These increased risks include:

• Higher likelihood of needing intensive care
• Higher likelihood of requiring mechanical ventilation
• Higher mortality rate
• Increased risk of preterm birth
• Potential complications for the baby

Vaccination dramatically reduces these risks by providing protection against severe disease. Additionally, antibodies produced in response to vaccination cross the placenta and can provide some protection to newborns during their first months of life, before they are old enough for their own vaccination.

Breastfeeding

COVID-19 vaccination is also recommended during breastfeeding. The vaccine components do not pass into breast milk in significant amounts, and any trace amounts would be digested in the baby's stomach. Antibodies produced by the vaccinated mother, however, can be transferred through breast milk and may provide some protection to the nursing infant.

Can Immunocompromised People Get Vaccinated?

Yes, COVID-19 vaccination is especially recommended for immunocompromised individuals. The vaccines are safe for this population as they do not contain live virus. However, vaccine effectiveness may be reduced in severely immunocompromised people, so additional doses are often recommended. Immunocompromised individuals should consult their healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

People with weakened immune systems face some of the highest risks from COVID-19 infection. This makes vaccination particularly important for this group. The vaccines have been studied in immunocompromised populations and found to be safe—the vaccines do not contain live virus and cannot cause COVID-19, even in people with weakened immune systems.

The challenge for immunocompromised individuals is not vaccine safety but vaccine effectiveness. A weakened immune system may not mount as strong a response to vaccination as a healthy immune system. This means that immunocompromised people may not achieve the same level of protection from a standard vaccination schedule. For this reason, health authorities often recommend additional doses for this population.

Conditions Affecting Immune Response

Various conditions and treatments can affect the immune system and potentially reduce vaccine response:

• Organ transplant recipients: Taking immunosuppressive medications to prevent rejection
• Cancer patients: Particularly those receiving chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy
• HIV/AIDS: Particularly with low CD4 counts
• Primary immunodeficiency disorders: Inherited conditions affecting immune function
• Autoimmune conditions: Particularly when treated with immunosuppressive medications
• Chronic steroid use: High-dose steroids can suppress immune response

People in these categories should work with their healthcare providers to optimize vaccination timing and schedule. In some cases, it may be beneficial to time vaccination around treatment cycles or temporarily adjust medications to improve vaccine response.

Who Should NOT Get Vaccinated?

Very few people have genuine contraindications to COVID-19 vaccination. The only absolute contraindication is a documented severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the same vaccine type or to a known component of the vaccine. People with allergies to foods, medications, or environmental factors can typically be vaccinated safely. Consult your healthcare provider if you have concerns.

One of the most important messages about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility is that genuine contraindications are rare. Many people incorrectly believe they cannot be vaccinated due to allergies, medical conditions, or medications when in fact they can safely receive the vaccine. Understanding what actually constitutes a contraindication can help ensure that people don't miss out on protection unnecessarily.

True Contraindications

The only absolute contraindication to COVID-19 vaccination is:

• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose: If you experienced anaphylaxis after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, you should not receive another dose of the same vaccine type. However, you may be able to receive a different type of vaccine under medical supervision.
• Severe allergic reaction to a vaccine component: If you have a known allergy to a specific ingredient in the vaccine (such as polyethylene glycol for mRNA vaccines), you should not receive that vaccine. Alternative vaccines may be available.

Common Misconceptions About Contraindications

Many conditions that people believe prevent vaccination are actually not contraindications:

• Allergies to foods, medications, or environmental factors: These do not prevent vaccination. People with allergies may be observed for a longer period (30 minutes instead of 15) after vaccination as a precaution.
• History of allergic reactions to other vaccines: Unless the reaction was to a COVID-19 vaccine specifically, this is not a contraindication.
• Taking medications: Most medications, including blood thinners, immunosuppressants, and biologics, are not contraindications. Timing may need to be coordinated for some treatments.
• Chronic health conditions: These are reasons to get vaccinated, not reasons to avoid it.
• Previous COVID-19 infection: Prior infection is not a contraindication; vaccination is still recommended.
• Family history of adverse reactions: Family members' experiences do not predict your response.

Can I Get Vaccinated If I've Already Had COVID-19?

Yes, vaccination is recommended even after having COVID-19. Natural immunity varies between individuals and wanes over time. Vaccination after infection provides additional, more consistent, and potentially longer-lasting protection. Studies show that "hybrid immunity" from both infection and vaccination provides robust protection. There is no required waiting period after recovery.

Many people who have recovered from COVID-19 wonder whether they still need vaccination. The answer is yes—vaccination remains beneficial and recommended even for those with prior infection. While natural infection does provide some immunity, this protection is variable and temporary.

Several important factors support vaccination after infection:

• Variable natural immunity: The level of protection from natural infection varies significantly between individuals. Some people mount strong immune responses; others do not. Vaccination provides a more consistent level of protection.
• Waning immunity: Protection from natural infection decreases over time. Studies show that reinfection risk increases in the months following initial infection.
• Variant protection: Natural immunity from infection with one variant may provide less protection against newer variants. Updated vaccines specifically target current circulating variants.
• Hybrid immunity: Research consistently shows that "hybrid immunity"—protection from both infection and vaccination—provides the most robust and durable protection.

There is no required waiting period between COVID-19 infection and vaccination. The general recommendation is to wait until acute symptoms have resolved. Some people choose to wait a few weeks or months after infection, but this is not medically necessary.

Where Can I Get Vaccinated?

COVID-19 vaccines are available at hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, community health centers, and public vaccination sites in most countries. Many locations offer walk-in appointments or online booking. Vaccines are typically provided free of charge through public health programs regardless of insurance status. Contact your local health authority or healthcare provider to find vaccination locations near you.

Access to COVID-19 vaccination has expanded dramatically since vaccines first became available. In most countries, multiple options exist for receiving vaccination, making it convenient to get protected. The specific locations and booking processes vary by country and region.

Common Vaccination Locations

• Pharmacies: Many retail pharmacies offer COVID-19 vaccination with convenient hours
• Primary care clinics: Your regular doctor may offer vaccines during routine visits
• Hospitals and medical centers: Often provide vaccination services
• Community health centers: May offer services to underserved populations
• Public health clinics: Local health departments frequently operate vaccination clinics