Is a Summer COVID Booster Worth It?

Key TakeawaysThere is no official recommendation for a summer COVID booster shot.People who didn’t get a fall booster are eligible to get it now.Those who are 65+ were eligible to get a spring booster, too.COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are on the rise again, and some doctors predicting a summer wave thanks to the risingFLiRT variants. Since spring COVID-19 boosters were recommended for older adults, it’s understandable to wonder if everyone else should consider a summer booster. That’s especially true if you’re planning to travel or will be around immunocompromised loved ones.The answer is a little complicated, according to infectious disease specialists. Here’s where the current recommendations stand, plus what experts suggest.Summer Booster RecommendationsAs of right now, there are no recommendations for a summer booster shot. In the spring, health officials recommended that people aged 65 and up get a second dose of the COVID vaccine that was updated in the fall to better target the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people in this age group should get that second dose at least four months after having the previous updated dose.CDC Recommends a New Round of COVID Boosters for Older Adults“If you’re an older adult, you received the updated vaccine last fall, and you have not received an updated dose, you ought to go ahead and get a subsequent dose,”William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Verywell.Overall, though, “the vaccination recommendations have not changed—there’s nothing specific for summer,” infectious disease expertAmesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Verywell.Some People May Benefit From a Summer Shot AnywayHere’s where things get slightly complicated. When the updated COVID vaccine was released last fall, only one in five adults actually got it.“If you received an updated vaccine in the fall, you’re only eligible for another vaccine if you’re over 65 or immunocompromised,”Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in New York, told Verywell. But given how few people actually got the fall vaccine, “many people are still eligible for vaccines,” he said.If you never received an updated fall vaccine and are concerned about contracting COVID this summer, Russo said that now is the time to get another dose. You’ll be given the new version that targets XBB.1.5. “COVID is still smoldering, and we will probably see an increase in cases in the summer,” he said.How Many COVID Boosters Are There?A New Fall Vaccine Is LikelyNew COVID variants keep surfacing, which means the vaccine also has to change to be more effective, Schaffner said. As a result, “there will likely be a new vaccine formulation for the fall,” Adalja said.If you haven’t received the previous fall vaccine, Schaffner recommends getting it now. “I would go ahead and get that booster, particularly if you’re traveling,” he said. “Then, three to four months from now, get another one in the fall.”Given that COVID cases are lower now than they were in the fall and winter and vaccine demand is low, it may be more difficult to get an appointment. However, major pharmacies will have vaccines in stock, or you can get vaccinated at a primary care physician’s office, Schaffner said. You just may want to call in advance or book an appointment online to make sure the vaccines are available.COVID vaccines are available for free to everyone 6 months and older living in the U.S., regardless of immigration or insurance status, so you shouldn’t have any issues with cost.If you decide to get a booster sometime this summer, Russo recommends that you just plan to wait three to four months to get the updated fall vaccine once it becomes available.What This Means For YouThere is no official recommendation on getting a summer COVID-19 booster. However, if you never received the updated fall vaccine, doctors say that now is a good time to get it.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.

Key TakeawaysThere is no official recommendation for a summer COVID booster shot.People who didn’t get a fall booster are eligible to get it now.Those who are 65+ were eligible to get a spring booster, too.

Key Takeaways

There is no official recommendation for a summer COVID booster shot.People who didn’t get a fall booster are eligible to get it now.Those who are 65+ were eligible to get a spring booster, too.

COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are on the rise again, and some doctors predicting a summer wave thanks to the risingFLiRT variants. Since spring COVID-19 boosters were recommended for older adults, it’s understandable to wonder if everyone else should consider a summer booster. That’s especially true if you’re planning to travel or will be around immunocompromised loved ones.

The answer is a little complicated, according to infectious disease specialists. Here’s where the current recommendations stand, plus what experts suggest.

Summer Booster Recommendations

As of right now, there are no recommendations for a summer booster shot. In the spring, health officials recommended that people aged 65 and up get a second dose of the COVID vaccine that was updated in the fall to better target the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people in this age group should get that second dose at least four months after having the previous updated dose.

CDC Recommends a New Round of COVID Boosters for Older Adults

“If you’re an older adult, you received the updated vaccine last fall, and you have not received an updated dose, you ought to go ahead and get a subsequent dose,”William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Verywell.

Overall, though, “the vaccination recommendations have not changed—there’s nothing specific for summer,” infectious disease expertAmesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Verywell.

Some People May Benefit From a Summer Shot Anyway

Here’s where things get slightly complicated. When the updated COVID vaccine was released last fall, only one in five adults actually got it.

“If you received an updated vaccine in the fall, you’re only eligible for another vaccine if you’re over 65 or immunocompromised,”Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in New York, told Verywell. But given how few people actually got the fall vaccine, “many people are still eligible for vaccines,” he said.

If you never received an updated fall vaccine and are concerned about contracting COVID this summer, Russo said that now is the time to get another dose. You’ll be given the new version that targets XBB.1.5. “COVID is still smoldering, and we will probably see an increase in cases in the summer,” he said.

How Many COVID Boosters Are There?

A New Fall Vaccine Is Likely

New COVID variants keep surfacing, which means the vaccine also has to change to be more effective, Schaffner said. As a result, “there will likely be a new vaccine formulation for the fall,” Adalja said.

If you haven’t received the previous fall vaccine, Schaffner recommends getting it now. “I would go ahead and get that booster, particularly if you’re traveling,” he said. “Then, three to four months from now, get another one in the fall.”

Given that COVID cases are lower now than they were in the fall and winter and vaccine demand is low, it may be more difficult to get an appointment. However, major pharmacies will have vaccines in stock, or you can get vaccinated at a primary care physician’s office, Schaffner said. You just may want to call in advance or book an appointment online to make sure the vaccines are available.

COVID vaccines are available for free to everyone 6 months and older living in the U.S., regardless of immigration or insurance status, so you shouldn’t have any issues with cost.

If you decide to get a booster sometime this summer, Russo recommends that you just plan to wait three to four months to get the updated fall vaccine once it becomes available.

What This Means For YouThere is no official recommendation on getting a summer COVID-19 booster. However, if you never received the updated fall vaccine, doctors say that now is a good time to get it.

What This Means For You

There is no official recommendation on getting a summer COVID-19 booster. However, if you never received the updated fall vaccine, doctors say that now is a good time to get it.

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.

3 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.Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.KFF.KFF COVID-19 vaccine monitor.Department of Health and Human Services.COVID-19 vaccines.

3 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.Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.KFF.KFF COVID-19 vaccine monitor.Department of Health and Human Services.COVID-19 vaccines.

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.Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.KFF.KFF COVID-19 vaccine monitor.Department of Health and Human Services.COVID-19 vaccines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

KFF.KFF COVID-19 vaccine monitor.

Department of Health and Human Services.COVID-19 vaccines.

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?