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COVID-19 vaccine clinic toolkit for long-term care facilities

Last updated November 19, 2024.

A health care worker in teal scrubs smiles at a patient with short grey hair and glasses.

Table of contents

Summary of recent changes

People aged 65 years and older, vaccinated under the routine schedule, are recommended to receive two doses of any 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine (i.e., Moderna, Novavax, or Pfizer-BioNTech) separated by six months (minimum interval two months) regardless of vaccination history, with one exception: Unvaccinated people who initiate vaccination with 2024–2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine are recommended to receive two doses of Novavax followed by a third dose of any COVID-19 vaccine six months (minimum interval two months) later.

People ages 6 months and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised are recommended to receive:

  • Unvaccinated: a multidose initial series with an age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine and one dose six months (minimum interval two months) after completion of the initial series; may receive additional doses under shared clinical decision-making.
  • Previously completed the multidose initial series: two age-appropriate doses of 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine six months (minimum interval two months) apart; may receive additional doses under shared clinical decision- making. 

Vaccination recommendations


Routine COVID-19 vaccination for those without immune compromise (full CDC guidance)

  • People ages 5–64 years should receive one dose of an age-appropriate 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine.
    • People ages 12–64 years who are unvaccinated and receive the 2024–2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for initial vaccination should receive two doses of 2024–2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.
  • People ages 65 years and older should receive two doses of any 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine, spaced six months (minimum interval two months) apart.
    • People ages 65 years and older who are unvaccinated and receive Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for initial vaccination should receive two doses of 2024–2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine followed by a third dose of any 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine dose six months (minimum interval two months) after the second dose.

COVID-19 vaccination for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised (full CDC guidance)

  • Unvaccinated: Should receive a multidose initial series with an age-appropriate 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine and one dose of a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine six months (minimum interval two months) after completing the initial series
  • Previously completed an initial series: Should receive two doses of an age-appropriate 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine, spaced six months (minimum interval two months) apart
  • May receive additional age-appropriate 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine doses under shared clinical decision-making

Groups recommended for vaccination

  • COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older in the United States for the prevention of COVID-19. There is currently no FDA-approved or FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than6 months.
  • CDC recommends that people receive all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses. Vaccination is especially important for people at highest risk of severe COVID-19, including people 65 years and older; people with underlying medical conditions, including immune compromise; people living in long-term care facilities; and pregnant people to protect themselves and their infants.

There is no preferential recommendation for the use of any one COVID-19 vaccine over another when more than one recommended and age-appropriate vaccine is available.

The emergence and transmission of new COVID-19 variants highlight the continued need for residents and staff of residential and long-term care facilities to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Residents and staff should receive the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine as recommended for their age and immune status as soon as they can. These updated COVID-19 vaccines are formulated to more closely target currently circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization, Long COVID, and death. Vaccine protection decreases over time, so it is important to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination. Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines reduces your chance of getting seriously sick, needing to be hospitalized, developing Long COVID, or dying due to COVID-19.

Additional COVID-19 vaccination considerations

Vaccination during a COVID-19 outbreak 

Receiving a COVID-19 vaccination is critical to protect both staff and residents against COVID-19. Find on-site vaccination clinic guidance for residential care facilities.

Vaccination after a previous or current COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection 

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older, regardless of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, including people with Long COVID. 

People with known current SARS-CoV-2 infection should defer any COVID-19 vaccination at least until recovery from the acute illness (if symptoms were present). For further information, see CDC’s Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States webpage. 

Additionally, people who recently had SARS-CoV-2 infection may consider delaying a  COVID-19 vaccine dose by three months from when their symptoms started or, if they had no symptoms, when they first tested positive. Reinfection is less likely in the weeks to months after infection. However, individual factors, such as risk of COVID-19 severe disease and current indicators of community transmission, should be taken into account when determining whether to delay getting a COVID-19 vaccination after infection..

Vaccine promotional materials

Vaccine product information

There are currently three 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines authorized and approved for use in the United States: Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax.

Infection prevention recommendations for vaccination clinics

Refer to the On-site Vaccine Clinics at Residential Care Facilities guidance for vaccination clinics conducted in residential care facilities. It is important to follow infection prevention recommendations to prevent transmission of COVID-19 within the facility. Free education is available on infection prevention and control best practices through Project Firstline.  

Colorado Immunization Information System

Immunization records are confidential, personal medical information. The Colorado Immunization Information System is a lifelong immunization record tracking system under the Colorado Immunization Registry Act of 2007. Per C.R.S. 25-4-2403 (2.5)(a), immunizing providers are required to report immunization and exemption data to CIIS.CIIS has signed agreements with all participating sites that are authorized to provide information to or access information from CIIS. CIIS and all people and entities that access immunization records are required to maintain the confidentiality of those records.

The CDPHE Colorado Immunization Information System webpages provide information about requesting a copy of your immunization records.

CDPHE encourages facilities to obtain CIIS access to view resident immunization records. The facility COVID-19 Vaccination Coordinator, Backup Coordinator, or another facility representative must complete the CIIS training to obtain access to the CIIS system by following these instructions. Additionally, see the CIIS Enrollment Requirement Presentation and this CDPHE CIIS General User Training webpage. Email the CIIS team at cdphe.ciis@state.co.us.

Additional resources

COVID-19 vaccine resources 

Long-term care facility resources