The updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-2025 respiratory season is recommended by the CDC and will be available soon. Getting this vaccine can decrease your chances of getting sick. It also helps protect you from getting very sick and can lower your risk of having long-lasting symptoms.
Who should get it?
Everyone ages 6 months and older should get the updated COVID-19 vaccine. It's especially important for people at higher risk, like older adults, pregnant people, those with disabilities, and anyone with a weaker immune system.
When should I get vaccinated?
When you should get vaccinated depends on your situation. Protection is strongest in the several months after you get vaccinated.
- If you recently had COVID-19, you can choose to wait 3 months before getting the updated vaccine. This lets you take advantage of the natural protection you got from the infection and stretch out your immunity through winter.
- If you haven’t had COVID-19 recently, you can choose to get it now for extra protection during the current summer wave, or you can choose to wait until later in September or October to provide more protection for the winter and holiday season. If you choose to wait, you can take extra precautions to protect yourself when COVID-19 is spreading in your community.
- If you have a weakened immune system, you may need more than one dose. This means you can get one now and another one later when protection begins to fade.
Can I get COVID-19 and flu shots at the same time?
Yes. COVID-19 and flu vaccinations can be safely given at the same time.
Why is there an updated COVID-19 vaccine each year?
Just like the flu, the virus that causes COVID-19 changes over time. Each year an updated vaccine is made to target the latest versions of the virus that are making people sick. Getting the updated vaccine will help protect you better against the current version of the virus. Also, protection against COVID-19 from previous vaccinations decreases over time.
Are COVID-19 vaccines safe?
Hundreds of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been safely administered. Serious adverse events have been very rare. By the end of 2022, COVID-19 prevented an estimated 18.5 million hospitalizations and 3.2 million deaths.
Where can I get vaccinated?
Like the annual flu vaccine, the updated COVID-19 vaccine will be available at pharmacies, medical providers, and grocery stores and will be covered by health insurance. Uninsured individuals can get low cost or no cost vaccine at their local health department or community clinics. See where to get COVID-19 and flu vaccines at vaccines.gov.
Additional resources
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)