How soon after COVID-19 infection can you get vaccinated?

Updated: June 2022

If you had COVID-19 and are ready to get vaccinated or are planning on getting your booster, you may be wondering how long you need to wait after recovering from COVID-19. 

After testing positive for COVID-19, you will need to postpone getting vaccinated until your symptoms resolved. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and treatments you received, this timeline may vary from person to person.

Overall,  here is what you need to know: 

• People with COVID-19 WITH symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have completely recovered and meet the criteria for discontinuing isolation.

• People with COVID-19 WITHOUT symptoms should also wait until they meet the criteria to discontinue isolation before getting vaccination. 

• But if you received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you will need to wait 90 days before getting the vaccine.

How long do you need to isolate for?

• If you tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of your vaccination status, you should stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others. Wear a well-fitted mask and do not travel. You may end your isolation period after 5 full days if you have been fever-free for 24 hours and your symptoms resolved.

• If you were severely ill or are immunocompromised, however, you should isolate for at least 10 days and consult your doctor before ending isolation.

Lastly, if you are planning on getting your COVID booster, the recommended time since your primary series needs to have passed: At least 5 months after completion of a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna primary series and at least 2 months after completion of a Janssen COVID-19 primary dose.

Talk to your doctor if you’re not sure when to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Visit www.cdc.gov for for more information.

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