Key Takeaways

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises everyone aged 6 months and older to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially severe effects and outcomes of COVID-19 during the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

But is it possible to get the latest vaccine while you’re currently infected with COVID-19? If you choose to wait, how soon after recovering from infection should you consider getting vaccinated? Here’s what experts have to say.

Can You Get the Vaccine While You Have COVID?

If you have an active COVID-19 infection, you should not get the updated vaccine. The main reason for this precaution is so that you can minimize the risk of potentially exposing healthcare workers and others to the virus.

“Getting the COVID-19 vaccine while you are sick with COVID is not harmful to you, but puts others at risk, particularly those at the vaccination site,“William Moss, MD, a professor in the department of Epidemiology, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Verywell in an email. “In addition, you may not derive the full benefits of the vaccine if you receive it while sick with COVID.”

Instead, Grusich and the CDC recommend holding off on getting the COVID-19 vaccine until you have fully recovered from the acute illness, are symptom-free, and meet the criteria to end your isolation.

How Soon After an Active COVID Infection Can You Get the New Vaccine?

If you recently had COVID-19, you can get the updated vaccine as early as when your isolation period is over: at least 5 days after symptoms started and as late as 10 days after symptoms started, said Moss.

However, the CDC says you can wait three months if you’d like. That’s because the likelihood of getting COVID again in the near future is low and because allowing space between your illness and a shot may improve vaccine response.

Eric Asher, DO, a family medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, suggests waiting 8 to 10 weeks after recovering from a COVID-19 infection before receiving the updated vaccine because of this temporary natural immunity.

It’s important to note that natural immunity does wear off over time.Once it does, Asher said getting vaccinated with the updated vaccine will make your body’s response to COVID that much stronger. Plus, natural immunity alone won’t protect you fromnewer variants, which the vaccine is designed to do.

Can You Get Vaccinated Sooner?

If you still have questions regarding when you should get vaccinated after an active COVID-19 infection, it’s best to discuss your specific situation with a healthcare provider.

Where Can You Get The Updated COVID-19 Vaccine?

According to Grusich, most people are still able to access COVID-19 vaccines at no cost through their private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, and theVaccines for Children Program.

However, adults without insurance or whose insurance requires a co-pay for in-network coverage of COVID-19 vaccines can get a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost through theCDC’s Bridge Access Program.

Where to Find Free COVID Vaccines Right Now—No Matter Your Insurance Status

What This Means For You

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.

5 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC recommends updated COVID-19 vaccine for fall/winter virus season.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 frequently asked questions.Bates TA, Leier HC, McBride SK, et al.An extended interval between vaccination and infection enhances hybrid immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants.JCI Insight. 2023;8(5):e165265. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.165265Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID natural immunity: What you need to know.American Association of Medical Colleges.The new COVID boosters: What doctors and patients need to know.

5 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC recommends updated COVID-19 vaccine for fall/winter virus season.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 frequently asked questions.Bates TA, Leier HC, McBride SK, et al.An extended interval between vaccination and infection enhances hybrid immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants.JCI Insight. 2023;8(5):e165265. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.165265Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID natural immunity: What you need to know.American Association of Medical Colleges.The new COVID boosters: What doctors and patients need to know.

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.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC recommends updated COVID-19 vaccine for fall/winter virus season.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 frequently asked questions.Bates TA, Leier HC, McBride SK, et al.An extended interval between vaccination and infection enhances hybrid immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants.JCI Insight. 2023;8(5):e165265. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.165265Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID natural immunity: What you need to know.American Association of Medical Colleges.The new COVID boosters: What doctors and patients need to know.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC recommends updated COVID-19 vaccine for fall/winter virus season.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 frequently asked questions.

Bates TA, Leier HC, McBride SK, et al.An extended interval between vaccination and infection enhances hybrid immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants.JCI Insight. 2023;8(5):e165265. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.165265

Johns Hopkins Medicine.COVID natural immunity: What you need to know.

American Association of Medical Colleges.The new COVID boosters: What doctors and patients need to know.

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