CDC’s 2025–2026 COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Who Should Get It and What It Means for You

Bottom line: The CDC recommends that most people ages 6 months and older receive the updated 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine, especially adults 65 and older, people who are pregnant, those with chronic health conditions, and anyone who is immunocompromised. The goal is not to prevent every infection, but to restore protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death as immunity wanes and the virus evolves.

Why there is a new COVID-19 vaccine for 2025–2026

COVID-19 vaccines are now updated on a seasonal cycle, similar to influenza vaccines. The virus that causes COVID-19 continues to change. Over time, protection from prior vaccination or infection fades, particularly against infection. Protection against severe disease tends to last longer but also declines.

For the 2025–2026 season, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) selected an updated strain formulation designed to better match currently circulating variants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then issued recommendations on who should receive it and when.

This update is meant to improve immune response to recent virus lineages and reduce the risk of severe outcomes during the fall and winter respiratory virus season.

Who should get the updated shot this season

According to the CDC’s 2025–2026 guidance, everyone ages 6 months and older is recommended to receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine, unless they have a specific medical reason not to.

Some groups are at higher risk for severe illness and are especially encouraged to stay up to date:

Adults ages 65 and older
People with chronic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or obesity
People who are immunocompromised due to medical conditions or medications
Pregnant and recently pregnant people
Residents of long-term care facilities

Children and teens are also included in the recommendation, as vaccination helps reduce severe disease and complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), even though most young people have milder illness.

Are extra doses recommended for older or immunocompromised adults?

For many healthy adults and children, one updated 2025–2026 dose is recommended this season.

However, the CDC allows and in some cases recommends additional doses for certain groups:

Adults 65 and older may be advised to receive a second dose at least several months after the first, depending on timing and risk.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may receive additional doses spaced at minimum intervals set by the CDC to help improve immune response.

Minimum intervals since a prior COVID-19 vaccine dose are outlined in CDC guidance. People who recently had COVID-19 may consider waiting about three months after infection before vaccination, though timing can vary based on individual risk.

If you are unsure, a pharmacist or primary care clinician can review your history and help determine the right schedule.

How the new formulation was chosen

The FDA’s vaccine advisory process reviews global surveillance data, laboratory studies, and immune response data to decide which strain to target. For 2025–2026, the agency selected a variant formulation intended to match dominant circulating lineages.

Unlike the first COVID-19 vaccines in 2020–2021, these updated vaccines were not tested in large new randomized controlled trials measuring real-world disease outcomes before authorization. Instead, regulators relied on:

Immunobridging studies, which measure antibody responses to the updated strain and compare them to earlier versions known to be effective.
Safety data from prior formulations using the same platform (mRNA or protein-based).
Ongoing real-world effectiveness data from previous seasons.

This approach is similar to how annual influenza vaccines are updated. It allows for faster response to viral evolution but means much of the evidence is based on immune markers rather than new large-scale efficacy trials.

What the evidence shows so far — and what it does not

CDC summaries in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and FDA review documents indicate that updated vaccines generate antibody responses against targeted variants and maintain safety profiles similar to earlier versions.

From prior seasons, real-world data consistently showed that updated COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of hospitalization and death, particularly among older adults and people with underlying conditions.

What remains uncertain:

How long protection will last against newly emerging variants.
Exactly how well the updated vaccine will match viruses that circulate later in the season.
Long-term effectiveness beyond several months, as follow-up is ongoing.

It is important to understand that these vaccines are primarily designed to reduce severe outcomes, not to fully prevent infection or transmission.

Safety monitoring and known risks

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be monitored through multiple U.S. safety systems, including the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the Vaccine Safety Datalink, and other federal surveillance programs.

Most side effects are mild and short-lived, such as soreness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, or low-grade fever.

Rare risks previously identified, such as myocarditis in younger males after mRNA vaccines, continue to be monitored. The risk remains uncommon, and public health officials weigh this against the known risks of COVID-19 itself, which can also affect the heart.

Getting vaccinated alongside flu and RSV vaccines

The CDC states that COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same visit as other vaccines, including the seasonal influenza shot and RSV vaccines for eligible adults.

For many families, combining vaccines in one appointment is more convenient and helps ensure protection before respiratory virus season peaks. Some people may choose to space vaccines out to better distinguish side effects, but this is not required for safety.

What it costs and how coverage works

For most people in the United States, the updated COVID-19 vaccine is covered at no cost when provided by an in-network provider.

Medicare Part B covers recommended COVID-19 vaccines without cost-sharing.
Medicaid and CHIP programs are required to cover ACIP-recommended COVID-19 vaccines for eligible enrollees.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurance plans must cover CDC-recommended vaccines without copays when delivered by in-network providers.

Uninsured individuals may need to access vaccines through community health centers, local health departments, or specific federal or state access programs. Availability and funding streams can vary by state.

Where to get vaccinated

COVID-19 vaccines are widely available across the United States at:

Retail pharmacies
Primary care offices
Community health centers
Local health departments

Bring your insurance card (if you have one), photo ID, and any record of previous COVID-19 vaccinations if available. Pharmacies often accept walk-ins, but scheduling online can reduce wait times.

What this means for you

The 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine update reflects a shift toward routine seasonal protection. For most people, it means one updated dose this year. For older adults and those with weakened immune systems, additional doses may be advised.

The strongest evidence continues to show that vaccination lowers the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. It does not eliminate the chance of infection, and effectiveness can vary as the virus changes.

If you are 65 or older, pregnant, living with chronic illness, or immunocompromised, staying up to date is especially important. If you are healthy and younger, vaccination still helps reduce severe outcomes and protects vulnerable people in your household and community.

As with flu season, planning ahead — and combining your COVID-19 shot with other recommended vaccines — can make respiratory virus season safer and more manageable.

Sources

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Research findings can be early, limited, or subject to change as new evidence emerges. For personal guidance, diagnosis, or treatment, consult a licensed clinician. For current outbreak or public health guidance, follow your local health department, the CDC, or another relevant public health authority.