Key TakeawaysThe CDC said adults ages 65 and older should get a second dose of this year’s COVID vaccine six months after their first dose.Immunocompromised people older than six months should also get a second dose of the vaccine and may talk with their health providers about receiving more doses.The recommendations aim to protect high-risk people in the winter and late summer—when COVID cases tend to peak.

Key Takeaways

The CDC said adults ages 65 and older should get a second dose of this year’s COVID vaccine six months after their first dose.Immunocompromised people older than six months should also get a second dose of the vaccine and may talk with their health providers about receiving more doses.The recommendations aim to protect high-risk people in the winter and late summer—when COVID cases tend to peak.

Older adults and people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get a second dose of this year’s COVID-19 vaccine six months after their first dose, according to updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“The COVID vaccine, while very effective in preventing severe disease, that protection wanes rather quickly over four to five months in older people and people who are immune compromised,”William Schaffner, MD, a spokesperson for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and a professor of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Verywell.

There appear to be two peaks in COVID cases in a year, according to data presented at a CDC advisory committee meeting this week. In addition to the usual uptick in the winter, cases and hospitalizations consistently peak in late summer.

People in high-risk groups who get their first dose of the 2024–2025 COVID vaccine now can get a second dose around May to extend their protection through the summer, Schaffner said.

People with compromised immune systems have the flexibility to receive more than two doses of the updated COVID vaccine if they decide with their doctor that doing so would further protect them.

Between last October and April, adults 65 years and older accounted for 70% of all COVID-related hospitalizations among adults.

The committee still recommends that people who have recovered from a COVID infection wait three months before getting another dose of vaccine. And it’s best to wait at least two months between COVID vaccines.

“Flu and COVID are going to be around this winter, causing a lot of illness, and we would like as little of that to be severe as possible,” Schaffner said. “In order to ensure that, we all have to get vaccinated.”

What This Means For YouVaccination can protect you against severe outcomes from a COVID infection and reduce the likelihood of developing long COVID. You can get your COVID vaccine at the same time as your flu vaccine. People ages 75 and older can also get their RSV vaccine in the same visit, if they didn’t get the shot last year.

What This Means For You

Vaccination can protect you against severe outcomes from a COVID infection and reduce the likelihood of developing long COVID. You can get your COVID vaccine at the same time as your flu vaccine. People ages 75 and older can also get their RSV vaccine in the same visit, if they didn’t get the shot last year.

4 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 second dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for people 65 years and older and for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Evidence to recommendations framework: additional doses of 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine in older adults and people with moderate or severe immunocompromise.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ACIP COVID-19 vaccines work group.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Implementation considerations for additional COVID-19 vaccine doses.

4 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 second dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for people 65 years and older and for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Evidence to recommendations framework: additional doses of 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine in older adults and people with moderate or severe immunocompromise.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ACIP COVID-19 vaccines work group.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Implementation considerations for additional COVID-19 vaccine doses.

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 second dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for people 65 years and older and for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Evidence to recommendations framework: additional doses of 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine in older adults and people with moderate or severe immunocompromise.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ACIP COVID-19 vaccines work group.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Implementation considerations for additional COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC recommends second dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for people 65 years and older and for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Evidence to recommendations framework: additional doses of 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine in older adults and people with moderate or severe immunocompromise.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ACIP COVID-19 vaccines work group.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Implementation considerations for additional COVID-19 vaccine doses.

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