About COMIRNATY, 
a BioNTech and Pfizer COVID-19 
vaccine for eligible individuals 5 years 
of age and older, and
how it works

COMIRNATY® is a vaccine to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COMIRNATY is for people who are:

• 65 years of age and older, or

• 5 years through 64 years of age at high risk for severe COVID-19.

Learn more about underlying conditions and risk factors that put individuals at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID‑19 here.cdc.gov.

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About the Updated Formula of COMIRNATY

How COMIRNATY Works

COVID-19 Vaccine Costs

About the Updated Formula of COMIRNATY

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The virus that causes COVID-19 continues to evolve, and protection from previous COVID-19 vaccination or infection can decrease over time. This can put eligible individuals who are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccination at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19.

An updated formula of COMIRNATY is designed to help protect against more recently circulating strains that cause COVID-19.

Updated formulas of COMIRNATY are made using the same process as previous formulas, with the difference only in the mRNA , which encodes the viral spike protein.
How COMIRNATY Works

COMIRNATY helps train your immune system.

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

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

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 the spike protein found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Illustration of how COMIRNATY works

The spike protein is presented on the surface of the cell and trains 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

These illustrations are intended for educational purposes only.
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.

COVID-19 Vaccine Costs

Most people with insurance should continue to pay $0 out of pocket for COMIRNATY, a COVID-19 vaccine by BioNTech & Pfizer.

If you don’t have health insurance or cannot afford out-of-pocket costs, please read the information below.

Pfizer’s Patient Assistance Programs

Eligible* individuals 65 years of age and older and individuals 5 to 64 with an underlying medical condition without insurance can receive COMIRNATY at no cost:

  • Through select federally qualified health centers, hospitals, and free clinics participating in Pfizer’s Institutional Patient Assistance Program (IPAP)

Please check PfizerRxPathways.com for the latest information.

*Eligible individuals cannot have prescription or medical insurance; age and other eligibility restrictions apply.

IMPORTANT: Always call the vaccination location to ensure they have COMIRNATY in stock prior to visiting.

Vaccines for Children Program

If you do not have insurance or are enrolled in Medicaid, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program may be able to help. The VFC is a government-funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children 18 years of age and younger who might not otherwise be vaccinated because they are not able to pay. The vaccines are given for free, but there might be other costs, such as payment for the visit or other services.

Learn more about the VFC Program and eligibility here.

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