About COMIRNATY,
a Pfizer and BioNTech
COVID-19 vaccine for people
12 years of age & older, and
how it works

Older adult male and young woman hugging

COMIRNATY is a vaccine for use in people 12 years of age and older to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

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About Updated COMIRNATY

How COMIRNATY Works

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About Updated COMIRNATY

Actor portrayal of doctor discussing with her patient

Over time, the virus that causes COVID-19 can evolve and protection from previous vaccination can decline. This can leave you at increased risk for COVID-19 and serious illness. Getting vaccinated with the 2024-2025 Formula of COMIRNATY can help protect against COVID-19.

The formula of COMIRNATY was updated following the FDA's recommendation that COVID-19 vaccines should be updated to help protect against circulating strains of the virus that causes COVID-19. The 2024-2025 Formula of COMIRNATY is made using a process similar to previous formulas, with the difference only in the mRNA which encodes the viral spike proteins.

The current formula of COMIRNATY is an updated vaccine and not a booster dose of a vaccine. There's a difference between an updated vaccine and a booster dose of a vaccine. An updated vaccine contains an updated formula that is anticipated to help protect against circulating strains of the virus that causes COVID-19. A booster dose of a vaccine is an additional dose of the vaccine previously received.

Learn more about the differences between updated vaccines and boosters

How COMIRNATY Works

COMIRNATY helps train your immune system.

After vaccination, it works to help your body recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19 without you ever having been exposed to it.

COMIRNATY is composed of mRNA wrapped in a protective coating for delivery. After vaccination, the mRNA enters the cell.

Illustration of how COMIRNATY works

mRNA provides the cell instructions to build copies of spike proteins found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Illustration of how COMIRNATY works

The spike proteins are presented on the surface of the cell and train the immune system. The resulting immune response, which includes antibodies, is what recognizes and helps fight COVID-19 if you are exposed to the virus in the future.

Illustration of how COMIRNATY works

mRNA technology, used by mRNA COVID-19 vaccines including COMIRNATY, has the potential to streamline vaccine development. This allows for a timely response to FDA-recommended updates to the vaccine for emerging strains of the virus that causes COVID-19.

COMIRNATY does not contain SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. COMIRNATY cannot give you COVID-19.

These illustrations are intended for educational purposes only.