Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUpdated VaccinesKeeping CurrentWhat Up to Date MeansFinding COVID VaccinesNext in COVID-19 Booster Shot GuideHere’s Why You Need a COVID-19 Booster Shot

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Updated Vaccines

Keeping Current

What Up to Date Means

Finding COVID Vaccines

Next in COVID-19 Booster Shot Guide

For most people, the updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-2025 season requires just one shot.These vaccines target the KP.2 (Pfizer and Moderna) and JN.1 (Novavax) variants of the virus, with the respective products noted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated dose if it has been at least two months since their lastCOVID-19 vaccinedose. People older than age 65, and immunocompromised people over the age of six months, should have additional doses according to new guidelines. Talk with your healthcare provider to confirm the vaccines you need.

Fully Vaccinated Americans Won’t Need to Quarantine After COVID-19 Exposure, CDC Says

The COVID-19 vaccinations have been updated each season since 2021, in order to protect against the latest strains of the virus. In this sense, they have become more like annual flu shots that change for each specific season than “booster shots” for COVID.

There are three new COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 season. These include:

In 2024-2025, the CDC and Food and Drug Administration focused on the KP.2 and JN.1 strains. But the vaccines are expected to work against other variants, including the XEC strain and the KP.3.1.1 (which became a dominant strain in August 2024).

Do Vaccines Work on Other COVID Variants?As of December 2024, the XEC and KP.3.1.1 variants of the COVID-19 virus accounted for about 70% of the cases reported in the United States.The virus is always changing and evolving, and the annually updated vaccines are expected to work for emerging COVID variants.

Do Vaccines Work on Other COVID Variants?

As of December 2024, the XEC and KP.3.1.1 variants of the COVID-19 virus accounted for about 70% of the cases reported in the United States.The virus is always changing and evolving, and the annually updated vaccines are expected to work for emerging COVID variants.

Keeping Your COVID Vaccines Current

The CDC stresses the importance of keeping your COVID-19 vaccination status current for several reasons, primarily because the protection wanes over time. Current vaccination is especially key for the following demographics:

Certain people are at higher risk for COVID infection, including those diagnosed with health conditions that include:

People who have an increased risk for COVID-19 should be sure to get their updated vaccines.

Who Is Up to Date on COVID Vaccines?

The CDC offers different guidelines for what it means to be up to date on COVID-19 vaccination and updated vaccines (booster shots). Some of the criteria for the 2024-2025 updated vaccines are presented here and detail what you’ll need.

For children ages 5-11 years, one dose of either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines is considered up to date. One dose of the Novovax (as well as Moderna or Pfizer) also is acceptable for ages 12 through 64, unless you’ve never had the vaccine and choose Novovax because two doses will be needed.

For people over age 65, two doses of the 2024-2025 booster are now recommended. A six-month window between them is optimal, but two months is considered the minimum. People who are immunocompromised also need two doses under the latest guidelines.

COVID Boosters and Special CircumstancesThe 2024-2025 recommendations for updated COVID-19 vaccinations include special circumstances, such as people who have a recent COVID diagnosis or those who are being vaccinated for the first time with a Novovax product. Talk with your healthcare provider to ensure you have the right vaccine and dose for your COVID booster.

COVID Boosters and Special Circumstances

The 2024-2025 recommendations for updated COVID-19 vaccinations include special circumstances, such as people who have a recent COVID diagnosis or those who are being vaccinated for the first time with a Novovax product. Talk with your healthcare provider to ensure you have the right vaccine and dose for your COVID booster.

Where to Get Your COVID Booster

Before getting your vaccine, check with your healthcare provider to ensure you’re getting the right COVID booster. Your health insurance carrier can explain your coverage and payment options.

Summary

People who are vaccinated against COVID-19 need to continue their protection with an annual updated vaccine. Although people might call these “booster shots,” the vaccines are new each season in order to target the latest variants, much like annual flu shots do.

COVID-19 booster shot requirements vary depending on your age, health history and risks, and the type and number of COVID vaccines you’ve had before. Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to understand the available options and ensure you get the right product to maintain the COVID-19 protection you need.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC Updates Vaccine Recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines.Yale Medicine.What to Know About the Updated 2024-2025 COVID Vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID Data Tracker Variant Proportions.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People with Certain Medical Conditions and COVID-19 Risk Factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC Updates Vaccine Recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines.Yale Medicine.What to Know About the Updated 2024-2025 COVID Vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID Data Tracker Variant Proportions.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People with Certain Medical Conditions and COVID-19 Risk Factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC Updates Vaccine Recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines.Yale Medicine.What to Know About the Updated 2024-2025 COVID Vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID Data Tracker Variant Proportions.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People with Certain Medical Conditions and COVID-19 Risk Factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC Updates Vaccine Recommendations.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines.

Yale Medicine.What to Know About the Updated 2024-2025 COVID Vaccines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID Data Tracker Variant Proportions.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People with Certain Medical Conditions and COVID-19 Risk Factors.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?

COVID-19 Booster Shots: What You Need to KnowHere’s Why You Need a COVID-19 Booster ShotShould You Worry About Waning COVID-19 Antibodies?Are Booster Shots Common for Vaccines?Is the U.S. COVID Booster Plan Ethical?Who Can Get a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot?Here’s What to Know About Getting a COVID Booster ShotCDC Panel Recommends Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for Immunocompromised PeopleShould You Still Get a Booster Shot After a Breakthrough COVID Case?What Are COVID Booster Shot Side Effects Like?FDA Greenlights ‘Mixing and Matching’ COVID-19 Vaccine BoostersAre COVID-19 Booster Shots Variant-Specific?Here’s Where to Find a COVID BoosterAre COVID-19 Booster Shots Free?CDC: You Can Get the Flu Shot and a COVID Vaccine TogetherWhat Should You Do If You Laminated Your COVID-19 Vaccine Card?

vaccine vials of booster shots surrounded by virus cells full size

COVID-19 Booster Shots: What You Need to Know

A pattern of COVID-19 vaccine ampules on a light green background.

Here’s Why You Need a COVID-19 Booster Shot

Man receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Should You Worry About Waning COVID-19 Antibodies?

Older man looking at his arm where he was vaccinated.

Are Booster Shots Common for Vaccines?

An illustration of a gloved hand injecting a globe with a syringe; there are red COVID virus particles on a light red background.

Is the U.S. COVID Booster Plan Ethical?

Hands reaching for booster shot vial.

Who Can Get a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot?

Three ampules of COVID vaccines, two with purple caps.

Here’s What to Know About Getting a COVID Booster Shot

Nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

CDC Panel Recommends Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for Immunocompromised People

Woman getting a COVID vaccine.

Should You Still Get a Booster Shot After a Breakthrough COVID Case?

person at vaccination site sitting with nurse while others wait

What Are COVID Booster Shot Side Effects Like?

three vaccine syrignes

FDA Greenlights ‘Mixing and Matching’ COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters

A bunch of vaccine ampules lined up; they are labeled COVID-19 vaccine.

Are COVID-19 Booster Shots Variant-Specific?

A sign in a public space that says “together we can help stop the spread of COVID-19”

Here’s Where to Find a COVID Booster

COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

Are COVID-19 Booster Shots Free?

An unseen person wearing a face mask with whales on it; they have a band aid on her arm where she got a shot.

CDC: You Can Get the Flu Shot and a COVID Vaccine Together

Close up of a white person’s hands holding a laminated COVID vaccine card.

What Should You Do If You Laminated Your COVID-19 Vaccine Card?

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies