What’s Trending

All children need specific vaccines at certain ages so they can have protection when they need it most.

Vaccines teach children’s immune systems how to fight off dangerous diseases before they’re exposed to germs.

The recommended vaccine schedule ensures that children receive vaccines when their immune systems are mature enough to respond adequately and when they’re most at risk of getting very sick.

The vaccine schedule is set by doctors to confirm that vaccines are safe and provide kids with the most benefit.

Children who receive vaccines at recommended times have protection against 16 diseases, including some that can cause paralysis, brain damage, and even death.

Over the past 30 years, it’s estimated that recommended childhood vaccines have prevented 32 million hospitalizations and saved 1.1 million lives in the United States alone.

Children who don’t follow the vaccine schedule are at risk of catching diseases like measles and whooping cough, which are especially dangerous for babies and kids.

Childhood vaccination rates are declining, with many parents citing unfounded safety concerns. However, vaccines are rigorously tested before they’re approved, and severe side effects are extremely rare.

When kids aren’t vaccinated, disease outbreaks occur, which affects the whole community.

Plus, unvaccinated kids can put vulnerable family members at risk, like newborns who are too young to get vaccinated and older adults.

If your children aren’t up to date on vaccines, it’s not too late to get back on track.

Learn when children should receive recommended vaccines and how many doses they need from the CDC. Your child’s pediatrician can provide more information about getting up to date on vaccines.

Children can get this season’s flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 vaccine now. If children were recently infected by COVID-19, they can wait three months since their last COVID-19 infection. Older kids can get vaccinated at most pharmacies, while young children and babies may need to get vaccinated by their pediatrician.

Routine vaccines are covered by most insurance plans. Children who are uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, American Indian, or Alaska Natives can get vaccinated for free through the CDC’s Vaccines for Children Program.

All children need specific vaccines at certain ages so they can have protection when they need it most.

• Vaccines teach children’s immune systems how to fight off dangerous diseases before they’re exposed to germs.
• The recommended vaccine schedule ensures that children receive vaccines when their immune systems are mature enough to respond adequately and when they’re most at risk of getting very sick.
• The vaccine schedule is set by doctors to confirm that vaccines are safe and provide kids with the most benefit.
• Children who receive vaccines at recommended times have protection against 16 diseases, including some that can cause paralysis, brain damage, and even death.
• Over the past 30 years, it’s estimated that recommended childhood vaccines have prevented 32 million hospitalizations and saved 1.1 million lives in the United States alone.

Children who don’t follow the vaccine schedule are at risk of catching diseases like measles and whooping cough, which are especially dangerous for babies and kids.

Childhood vaccination rates are declining, with many parents citing unfoundedsafety concerns. However, vaccines are rigorously tested before they’reapproved, and severe side effects are extremely rare.
○When kids aren’t vaccinated, disease outbreaks occur, which affects the wholecommunity.○Plus, unvaccinated kids can put vulnerable family members at risk, like newbornswho are too young to get vaccinated and older adults.

If someone in your household has symptoms of norovirus, isolate them away from others, watch for signs of dehydration, and take steps to help prevent it from spreading.

• Wear rubber, latex, or nitrile gloves if you are cleaning up after someone who has norovirus. Then wash your hands thoroughly. 
• Clean surfaces using a solution containing five to 25 tablespoons of bleach (that’s 12.5 fluid ounces, or just over ¾ cup), per gallon of water. Leave the bleach-water mix on surfaces for at least five minutes before wiping it off. 
• Wash the clothes and bedding of people who are sick with norovirus in hot water, and keep them separate from other items. 
• If you are sick with norovirus, do not prepare food for others in your household and use a separate bathroom, if possible.

Norovirus is a very contagious infection that causes vomiting and diarrhea.

• Symptoms typically appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure. Additional symptoms may include stomach pain, body aches, headaches, and a fever. 
• Norovirus may cause dehydration, or a dangerous loss of fluids, especially in young children and older adults. 
• See a health care provider if you or someone in your household shows signs of dehydration, which may include decreased urination, dizziness, a dry mouth and throat, sleepiness, and crying without tears.
• People who are sick with norovirus typically recover within one to three days. See a health care provider if symptoms last longer. 
• After symptoms resolve, people who are infected with norovirus may still be contagious for up to two days

The best way to help protect against norovirus is to wash your hands often with soap and warm water, since hand sanitizer may not be effective at killing the virus.

• You can get norovirus if you have close contact with someone who is infected, touch a contaminated surface and then touch your mouth or nose, or consume contaminated food or beverages. 
• Other ways to help prevent norovirus may include cooking food thoroughly and washing fruits and vegetables before eating them. 
• You can still get sick with norovirus even if you’ve had it before, since there are many different strains.
• Unfortunately, there are currently no vaccines that protect against norovirus (although there are some in development), so that’s why good hygiene is so important. However, there are vaccines for other diseases that are currently making people sick, like COVID-19, RSV, and the flu. It’s not too late to get vaccinated against these viruses.

If someone in your household has symptoms of norovirus, isolate them away from others, watch for signs of dehydration, and take steps to help prevent it from spreading.

• Wear rubber, latex, or nitrile gloves if you are cleaning up after someone who has norovirus. Then wash your hands thoroughly. 
• Clean surfaces using a solution containing five to 25 tablespoons of bleach (that’s 12.5 fluid ounces, or just over ¾ cup), per gallon of water. Leave the bleach-water mix on surfaces for at least five minutes before wiping it off. 
• Wash the clothes and bedding of people who are sick with norovirus in hot water, and keep them separate from other items. 
• If you are sick with norovirus, do not prepare food for others in your household and use a separate bathroom, if possible.

RSV is a respiratory virus that is especially dangerous for babies and young children.

Symptoms in young children may include a runny nose, decreased eating and drinking, and coughing, which may lead to wheezing and difficulty breathing. 

Infants with RSV may show symptoms like irritability, decreased activity and appetite, and life-threatening pauses in breathing (apnea) that last for more than 10 seconds. Most infants with RSV will not develop a fever. 

Babies who are born prematurely, have weakened immune systems, or have chronic lung disease are more likely to become very sick. 

RSV symptoms may be similar to symptoms of the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19. Get your child tested by a health care provider to confirm their diagnosis.

There are two ways to help protect babies from RSV: vaccination during pregnancy and giving babies nirsevimab, an RSV antibody shot.

Pregnant people who receive an RSV vaccine pass protective proteins to the developing fetus. This helps protect babies from severe RSV during their first six months of life. 

The CDC recommends that babies younger than 8 months whose gestational parent did not receive an RSV vaccine during pregnancy receive nirsevimab between October and March, when RSV typically peaks. This antibody shot delivers proteins that can help protect them against RSV. 

Nirsevimab is also recommended for children between 8 and 19 months who are at increased risk of severe RSV, including children who are born prematurely, have chronic lung disease or severe cystic fibrosis, are immunocompromised, or are American Indians or Alaska Natives. 

Pregnant people can receive an RSV vaccine at most pharmacies or from a health care provider. It’s covered by most insurance plans. Those who are un or underinsured or whose insurance plans do not cover RSV vaccination can explore coverage through state and local health departments, public insurance programs like Medicaid and CHIP, or pharmacy programs like GoodRx. 

Nirsevimab is typically covered by insurance. Children who do not have access to immunizations through family insurance can receive nirsevimab at no cost through the Vaccines for Children Program.

If someone in your household has RSV, watch for signs of severe illness and take steps to help prevent it from spreading.

Children and adults who are sick with RSV are recommended to stay home and away from others. 

If your infant or child has difficulty breathing or develops blue or gray skin, take them to an emergency room right away.

People who are infected with RSV can spread the disease when they cough or sneeze; have close contact with others; or touch, cough, or sneeze on shared surfaces. 

Help protect your family from catching and spreading RSV at home and in public places by ensuring that everyone covers their mouths during coughing and sneezing, washes their hands often, and wears a high-quality, well-fitting mask.

Any connection between vaccines and autism has been repeatedly debunked.

The mistaken belief that vaccines cause autism in children was popularized by a 1998 study that was later retracted due to fraudulent data. 

Since then, decades of credible studies have consistently shown that vaccines aren't associated with autism. 

Researchers attribute rising autism rates to increased screening and changes to diagnostic criteria, which allow for better access to appropriate interventions and support services. 

Vaccines are rigorously tested before they’re approved and have been shown to be safe across age groups.

There is no single cause for autism, and most risk factors exist before birth.

Research shows that genetics and birth complications likely contribute to autism, which is often diagnosed in children older than 3 (although adult diagnoses are increasingly common). 

Vaccines do not alter genes, and receiving recommended vaccines during pregnancy is safe for pregnant people and their babies. 

In fact, vaccination during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of complications that dangerous diseases cause, and it passes protective antibodies to the developing fetus.

Unvaccinated children are at risk of catching preventable diseases that can make them very sick and cause long-term complications, including death.

Vaccines also help prevent children from spreading dangerous illnesses to vulnerable family members, including newborns, older adults, and immunocompromised loved ones. 

The benefits of vaccination outweigh any potential risks, and severe side effects are extremely rare. Most children will only experience mild pain and, possibly, some swelling at the injection site. 

Learn when children should receive recommended vaccines and how many doses they’ll need from the CDC. 

Children can get vaccines—including an updated COVID-19 vaccine and this season’s flu vaccine—at their pediatrician’s office and at pharmacies. Find pharmacies near you at Vaccines.gov.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that can make some people—particularly babies, young children, and older adults—very sick.

• Symptoms typically appear four to six days after getting infected and may include a runny nose or congestion, coughing, sneezing, fever, decreased appetite, and wheezing. 
• Infants with RSV may also show symptoms like irritability, decreased activity or appetite, and difficulty breathing. 
• Every year, close to 60,000-80,000 U.S. children under 5 are hospitalized due to RSV. They may experience complications like pneumonia, bronchiolitis, or life-threatening pauses in breathing (called apnea). 
• Babies who are born prematurely, have weakened immune systems, or have chronic lung disease are more likely to develop a severe infection.

Vaccines during pregnancy are a safe way to help protect infants from severe RSV.

• The CDC recommends one dose of Pfizer’s Abrysvo RSV vaccine for people who are between 32-36 weeks pregnant during September through January, when RSV is more likely to spread. 
• New research suggests that getting vaccinated at 32 weeks of pregnancy may be best, since it gives the immune system more time to transfer antibodies to the developing fetus. 
• Even though most adults are not at high risk for severe infection, pregnant people who receive an RSV vaccine pass protective antibodies to their developing fetus. That helps protect infants during the first six months of their life, when they are at the highest risk of a severe RSV infection. 
• RSV vaccination during pregnancy has been shown to be safe, and side effects are typically mild. 
• Babies younger than 8 months whose gestational parent did not receive an RSV vaccine during pregnancy should receive nirsevimab, an RSV antibody, between October and March to help protect against the virus. Nirsevimab is also recommended for some young children who are at increased risk of severe RSV.

Pregnant people can get an RSV vaccine at many pharmacies or from a health care provider, and it’s covered by most insurance plans.

• Those who are un- or underinsured or whose insurance plans do not cover RSV vaccination can explore coverage through state and local health departments, public insurance programs like Medicaid and CHIP, or pharmacy programs like GoodRx. 
• It’s safe to get an RSV vaccine at the same time as other vaccines that are recommended during pregnancy. 
• Those who received an RSV vaccine during a previous pregnancy do not need another one, but their babies should receive nirsevimab, which is typically covered by insurance. Children who do not have access to vaccines through family insurance can receive nirsevimab at no cost through the Vaccines for Children Program. 
• Find pharmacies near you at Vaccines.gov.

Whooping cough is a bacterial respiratory illness that can cause long-term symptoms and even death.

Early symptoms typically appear five to 10 days after exposure and may include a runny or stuffy nose, a low fever, and a mild cough.

One to two weeks after symptoms appear, some people may experience extreme coughing fits that can cause shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, vomiting, fatigue, and rib fractures. These fits usually last one to six weeks, but they can last up to 10 weeks after infection.

About one in three babies under 1 year old who contract whooping cough require hospitalization. They may experience life-threatening pauses in breathing (called apnea), pneumonia, and other complications.

Children and adults who have asthma or are immunocompromised are also more likely to develop severe symptoms.

Vaccines are the best way to protect against whooping cough.

Two types of vaccines protect against whooping cough: The DTap vaccine is given to babies and children younger than 7 years old, while the Tdap vaccine is given to children 7 years and older and adults. Both vaccines protect against infections from diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough).

The CDC recommends that pregnant people receive a single dose of the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, as this lowers the risk of whooping cough in babies younger than 2 months old by 78 percent.

Multiple doses are required for the best protection. Learn more about DTaP and Tdap vaccine schedules from the CDC, and talk to your health care provider about how many doses you and your children need.

If you or your child has symptoms of whooping cough, isolate them from vulnerable family members and seek treatment early to reduce the risk of serious illness.

People with whooping cough can be contagious for weeks after infection.

Health care providers typically prescribe antibiotics to those recovering from whooping cough at home.

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicine is not recommended for children under 4 years old.

Limiting smoke, dust, and chemical fumes at home and using a humidifier can reduce coughing.

If you are caring for someone with whooping cough who exhibits pauses in breathing or develops gray or blue skin, call 911 immediately.

Unvaccinated children are at risk of serious illness, long-term health complications, and even death from preventable diseases.

• The flu and COVID-19 are among the leading causes of death for U.S. children. About 80 percent of children who died from the flu during the 2023-2024 flu season and had been eligible for a vaccine were not up to date on flu vaccines. 
• Babies and young children are at high risk of complications from diseases like measles and whooping cough, which are on the rise. 
• When children are up to date on vaccines, their immune systems are prepared to recognize germs and attack them before serious outcomes occur. 
• Birthing and breastfeeding parents can pass some protective antibodies—disease-fighting proteins—to their infants; however, this form of immunity only lasts for a few weeks or months. Vaccines provide long-lasting protection.

The risk of complications from vaccine-preventable diseases is much higher than the risk of complications from vaccines themselves.

• Vaccines are rigorously tested before they’re approved for any age group, and severe side effects are extremely rare. 
• After getting a vaccine, most children will only feel mild pain and a bit of swelling at the injection site. 
• It’s safe for kids to receive multiple vaccines at once—including updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which are available now and recommended for everyone 6 months and older.

Now that children are back in school, they’re more likely to bring germs home and get sick—so it’s best to ensure that they’re up to date on vaccines ASAP.

• Recommended vaccines help prevent children from spreading dangerous illnesses to vulnerable family members, like newborns who are too young to get vaccinated and older adults. 
• Learn when children should receive recommended vaccines and how many doses they’ll need from the CDC. Your child’s pediatrician can provide more information about getting up to date on vaccines. 
• Children can get this season’s flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 vaccine now. If children were recently infected by COVID-19, they can wait three months since their last COVID-19 infection. Find pharmacies near you at Vaccines.gov. Young children may need to get vaccinated by their pediatrician.

COVID-19 and the flu cause similar symptoms, but COVID-19 symptoms can be more severe and may last longer.

• Symptoms of both COVID-19 and the flu may include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body pain, headache, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea. The only way to know for sure if you have the flu, COVID-19, or both is by getting tested.
• People with the flu typically experience symptoms for one to four days after infection, while people with COVID-19 may experience symptoms anywhere from two to 14 days after infection.
• Nearly one in 10 people infected with COVID-19 currently suffer from long COVID, even months or years after having been infected.
• People who have COVID-19 and the flu at the same time may experience more severe symptoms than those who have either virus alone. 
• COVID-19 is more deadly than the flu across most age groups and is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. However, the flu is still dangerous: Each year, up to roughly 50,000 people die from the flu.
• Older adults are at the highest risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 and the flu.

COVID-19 and the flu both spread through respiratory droplets, but COVID-19 is more contagious

• These droplets enter the air when infected people breathe, cough, sneeze, and talk. 
• People with the flu are potentially contagious one day before they show symptoms and are typically most contagious during the first three days of symptoms. 
• People with COVID-19 are potentially contagious two to three days before their symptoms begin and throughout the duration of their symptoms—typically about eight days. 
• People can spread the flu and COVID-19 even if they don’t feel sick. One in three people infected with the flu and approximately one in five people infected with COVID-19 don’t show symptoms.

Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and getting this season’s flu vaccine can protect you and those around you.

• The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine this season to reduce your risk of contracting and spreading the respiratory viruses and to reduce the likelihood of severe illness, complications, and death.
• Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines are approved for people 6 months and older, and Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine is approved for those 12 years and older. 
• You can get this season’s flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccine now. If you were recently infected by COVID-19, you can wait three months after your infection to get vaccinated. Get vaccinated against both viruses by Halloween so you can stay protected through the fall and winter. 
• Find pharmacies near you at Vaccines.gov. 
• Wearing a mask also protects you and those around you from respiratory viruses.

The CDC recommends that high-risk groups get an additional dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine after six months.

• These recommendations apply to people 65 and older and immunocompromised people. 
• The shot will be an additional dose of the updated 2024-2025 Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax vaccines. 
• It’s safe to receive additional vaccine doses from any of the three manufacturers, regardless of which COVID-19 vaccines you received in the past. 
• Immunocompromised people may need more than two doses of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine and should discuss the best vaccine schedule for them with their health care provider. 
• Anyone who has not yet received an updated COVID-19 vaccine can get it now. It’s safe to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine, flu vaccine, and RSV vaccine (if eligible) at the same time. 
• Find pharmacies with vaccines near you at Vaccines.gov.

Older adults and immunocompromised people need additional COVID-19 vaccines because they’re more vulnerable to a severe COVID-19 infection.

• Between October 2023 and April 2024, people 65 and older accounted for 70 percent of COVID-19-related hospitalizations. Compared to people between the ages of 18 and 39, people 75 and older were about nine times as likely to die from COVID-19 in 2021, but that margin has continually widened over time. 
• Among adults who are hospitalized due to a COVID-19 infection, immunocompromised people are around 1.4 times more likely to die than those who are not immunocompromised. 
• This increased risk of severe illness and death occurs because both older adults and immunocompromised people don’t make adequate germ-fighting cells, which makes it harder for their bodies to fight off COVID-19 and other infections. 
• Older adults are also more likely to have underlying health conditions that increase the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, such as diabetes or heart disease. 
• Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines reduces the likelihood of severe illness, hospitalization, long-term health complications, and death.

The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for children under 5, adults 50 and older, and people at risk for severe pneumococcal disease.

• This vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacteria that can cause infections like pneumonia and meningitis, which are particularly dangerous for young children and older adults. 
• About one in 12 children and one in six older adults who develop pneumococcal meningitis will die from the infection. 
• Adults can get a pneumococcal vaccine at some pharmacies or at a health care provider’s office. Children may need to get vaccinated by their pediatrician.

We develop immunity—protection from infection—when our immune systems recognize a particular virus, bacteria, or fungus and destroy it.

• In utero, babies can acquire passive immunity to certain infections from antibodies (protective proteins) from their birthing parent through the placenta. After birth, babies can get antibodies from breast milk. 
• We acquire active immunity when we’re exposed to germs, either by getting infected or by getting vaccinated, which teach our bodies how to fight off future infections. 
• Passive immunity only lasts for a few weeks or months, while active immunity lasts longer.

Immunity helps you resist and fight diseases and protects you against becoming seriously ill, but it’s not perfect.

• If you’ve had an illness or you’ve been vaccinated against a particular disease, you could get infected again but still be protected from developing the worst, and sometimes deadly, symptoms. Immunity might wane faster if the pathogen causing the disease mutates quickly, like the viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu. That’s why we need updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines to target newer variants. 
• When more people get vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases, it’s better for everyone. Herd immunity occurs when enough people have immunity so that disease spread is dramatically reduced. 
• For example, diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella are rare in the U.S. because we’ve achieved herd immunity. 
• Recent outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases are due to a decline in vaccination rates, which puts herd immunity at risk.

Staying up to date on routine vaccines is an effective way to protect ourselves and build herd immunity.

• In addition to helping to prevent infection in babies, children, and adults, routine vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from dangerous diseases. 
• All vaccines are rigorously tested before becoming available to the public to ensure safety. 
• Getting vaccinated is a safer way to build immunity than getting infected with any disease. 
• Learn more about routine vaccines for children and for adults from the CDC.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting newer subvariants are available now at pharmacies.

• The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines are approved for people 6 months and older, and Novavax’s vaccine is approved for those 12 years and older. 
• Most people only need one dose of any updated COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of which manufacturer’s vaccines you’ve received before. 
• Children 6 months to 4 years and people who are immunocompromised may require additional vaccine doses. 
• It’s safe to get your annual flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.

If it’s been more than two months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or more than three months since your last COVID-19 infection, you can get an updated COVID-19 vaccine now.

• If you received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past few months, talk to your health care provider about the best vaccination schedule for you. 
• Find appointments near you at Vaccines.gov.

You can get updated COVID-19 vaccines for free through Medicare, Medicaid, and many private health insurance companies.

• Uninsured or underinsured children can get vaccinated for free through the CDC’s Vaccines for Children program. 
• Uninsured adults may be able to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine for free at some health centers.
• Uninsured adults can also pay for an updated COVID-19 vaccine out of pocket, although it may cost up to $200.

Antiviral treatments can prevent a severe COVID-19 infection and may reduce the risk of long COVID.

• If you get sick with COVID-19, your health care provider can prescribe an antiviral medication like Paxlovid or Lagevrio. You need to meet certain criteria to get this medication, and it needs to be started within a week of developing symptoms. 
• You may qualify for either of these antiviral drugs if you’re 65 or older; you have a medical condition that puts you at increased risk of severe illness, such as as asthma, diabetes, or HIV; you take immunosuppressant medication; or your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. 
• Paxlovid is approved for patients 12 and older who weigh more than 88 pounds, including pregnant patients. Lagevrio is approved for patients 18 and older. 
• Insured and underinsured people can get Paxlovid or Lagevrio for free or at reduced cost through their health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. Uninsured people can get it with a prescription through the Test to Treat program.

People who are hospitalized with COVID-19, including infants and children, may receive other forms of treatment.

• Remdesivir is an antiviral medication approved for patients who are at least 28 days old and weigh at least 6.6 pounds. 
• This medication is administered through an IV in a hospital and has been shown to prevent a COVID-19 infection from becoming more severe in both adults and children. 
• If you are hospitalized with COVID-19, your health care team may also treat you with antibody therapies to help your immune system fight off infection, such as monoclonal antibodies, which use proteins made in a lab, or convalescent plasma, which uses blood from donors who recovered from COVID-19. 
• Health care providers may also give supplemental oxygen to manage COVID-19-related complications.

Whether or not you take medication to help you recover from COVID-19 at home, there are steps you can take to manage symptoms and reduce long COVID risk.

• Resting as much as possible may reduce your risk of developing long COVID and may help you recover from long COVID if you develop lasting symptoms.
• Taking over-the-counter pain medication can help reduce your fever and manage body aches, and over-the-counter cough suppressants may help reduce coughing and help you sleep. 
• If you start experiencing trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, or difficulty staying awake or waking up, go to the hospital right away.

The COVID-19 and flu viruses evolve over time, so it’s recommended that everyone 6 months and older get updated vaccines each year to stay protected.

• The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna will target KP.2, a subvariant that is part of the currently dominant FLiRT family. The 2024-2025 vaccine from Novavax will target the JN.1 subvariant that was dominant at the beginning of this year.
• For now, the CDC recommends one 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna for everyone 6 months and older or one 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax for everyone 12 years and older. The CDC may recommend additional doses for high-risk populations in the future.
• This year’s flu vaccine will target three strains that are most likely to circulate and cause illness during the upcoming flu season.
• Children 6 months to 8 years who are getting a flu vaccine for the first time and those who have previously received only one dose of the flu vaccine in their lifetime will need two doses four weeks apart. Children who received two doses of the flu vaccine at any point will only need one flu shot this year.

Updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are expected to become available in September.

• Children who need two doses of the flu vaccine should get their first dose as soon as possible. For children who just need one dose, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated before the end of October. 
• Updated COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines will be available through pediatricians, pharmacies, and local health departments. If you have children under 3 years old, get their vaccines from a pediatrician, as pharmacies may have age restrictions.
• Most children can get free COVID-19 and flu vaccines through private health insurance plans, Medicaid, and CHIP. The CDC’s Vaccines for Children Program also provides free COVID-19 and flu vaccines for children who are uninsured, underinsured, and American Indian or Alaska Native.

COVID-19 and flu vaccines play an important role in keeping kids safe in schools.

• Flu vaccines reduce the risk of kids getting sick with the flu and potentially being hospitalized or dying. A 2022 study found that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of life-threatening influenza by 75 percent.
• Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines reduces the likelihood of severe illness, hospitalization, long-term health complications, and death.
• COVID-19 and flu vaccines are not required for school attendance, but they keep kids healthy and are safe. COVID-19 and flu vaccines have been rigorously tested in millions of people and determined to be safe for children 6 months and older.

COVID-19 levels are considered “high” or “very high” in 35 states.

• Researchers can track COVID-19 levels through wastewater data, which measures the amount of viral particles people shed into local sewage systems. 
• Test positivity rates, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and deaths are also on the rise across the country. Western states are seeing the highest number of COVID-19 infections. 
• Learn about COVID-19 wastewater levels in your state from the CDC.

While COVID-19 poses a risk year round, infections are surging this summer.

• Newer subvariants like KP.3—the latest to dominate this season—are better at evading our immune systems. 
• This summer’s extremely hot temperatures have driven gatherings inside, where COVID-19 spreads more easily. 
• Increased travel during the summer may also contribute to COVID-19 spread.

If you’re 65 or older or immunocompromised and still have not received an additional dose of last year’s COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your health care provider about getting it now to stay protected until more updated vaccines become available this fall.

• Experts say it’s best to wait four months between COVID-19 vaccines to get maximum protection, so if you get vaccinated this month, wait until November to get the newly updated COVID-19 vaccine expected in the fall. 
• You can protect yourself during summer travel by wearing a high-quality, well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask on airplanes, in airports, and in other crowded environments. This is especially important when local COVID-19 wastewater levels are high. 
• If you’re hosting a summer gathering, keep the party outside. If that’s not possible due to rain or high temperatures, improve indoor ventilation by opening windows and doors and using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. You can also build your own Corsi-Rosenthal box, which can capture about 85 percent of infectious particles.

If you feel sick, stay home.

• COVID-19 symptoms include a sore throat, cough, runny nose, fever, nausea, diarrhea, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell. If you must be around others, wear a mask to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others. 
• If you have symptoms, test at home or get tested by a health care provider.
• If you test positive for COVID-19, the CDC says you can resume normal activities if your symptoms are improving and if you haven’t had a fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication. However, you can still be contagious with COVID-19—typically for about 10 days—even if you’re symptom-free or your symptoms are improving.

COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are on the rise across the country.

• Two subvariants—KP.2 and KP.3, from the family known as FLiRT—are driving the surge, accounting for more than half of all new COVID-19 infections in the U.S.
• The U.S. often experiences a spike in cases in the summer, but wastewater data suggests that this summer’s COVID-19 wave started weeks earlier than last summer’s wave.
• According to the CDC, COVID-19 infections don’t follow a seasonal pattern like RSV and the flu, which primarily circulate during the fall and winter.

Since COVID-19 poses a risk year round, taking precautions to protect yourself and those around you is critical.

• Wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask to dramatically reduce your risk of inhaling respiratory virus particles and of spreading viral particles to others.
• If you’re experiencing symptoms—including a sore throat, cough, runny nose, fever, nausea, diarrhea, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell—stay home and away from others. Seek medical attention if your symptoms are severe or if you have risk factors for severe illness.
• To test for COVID-19, take an at-home rapid antigen test. If the test is negative, take another test 48 hours later. One negative rapid test is not enough to confirm that you’re COVID-free.
• If you don’t have symptoms—but you know you were exposed or are testing before a gathering—take three at-home rapid antigen tests 48 hours apart to improve the odds of getting an accurate reading. For a more accurate diagnosis, you can also get a PCR, or molecular, test from a health care provider or purchase one for self-testing at home
• If you’re hosting a gathering, opt to stay outside or take steps to improve indoor ventilation by opening windows and doors and using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. You can also build your own Corsi-Rosenthal box, which can capture about 85 percent of infectious particles.

New COVID-19 vaccines will be available this fall, likely in September.

• The updated vaccines will target the more recently circulating subvariants and will become available in August or September.
• The updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna will target KP.2, the currently circulating subvariant that descends from JN.1. The updated COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax will target the JN.1 subvariant that was dominant earlier this year. 
• If you get the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine that’s still available and are 65 or older, wait four months before getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall.

Talk to your health care provider about whether you should get another COVID-19 vaccine now or wait until the new vaccines are released this fall.

• Dr. Peter Hotez of the Baylor College of Medicine says, “If you’ve not been at all vaccinated with the [vaccine] from the fall of 2023, you do have some risk with this current surge and might give serious thought to getting the currently available vaccine, especially if you are traveling or have underlying risk factors.” 
• If you have not yet received last year’s updated COVID-19 vaccine, or if you are 65 or older or immunocompromised, you can still get it now before more updated COVID-19 vaccines become available in the fall.

It is safe to donate blood after getting a COVID-19 vaccine, despite what some vaccine opponents say online.

• In a May 29 statement, the American Red Cross confirmed that COVID-19 vaccines don’t make you ineligible to donate blood and that it is safe to receive blood from vaccinated people.
• Potential blood donors are asked whether they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 and for their vaccine’s manufacturer because according to Food and Drug Administration guidance, people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine with a live virus must wait two weeks before donating blood—but none of the COVID-19 vaccines approved in the U.S. contain a live virus.
• If you can’t remember your vaccine’s manufacturer, as a precaution, you will be asked to wait two weeks from the time of your vaccination to donate blood.
• If you received an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, or Johnson & Johnson, you can donate blood without needing to wait if you’re feeling well and don’t have any symptoms.

The questions for blood donors don’t mean that COVID-19 vaccines (or any other vaccine) are unsafe.

• Questions about your vaccination status before donating are standard and have nothing to do with the safety of vaccines. Blood donation organizations want to know whether you received a vaccine with a live virus because there is a risk that the live weakened virus contained in some vaccines could be passed through the blood.
• Potential donors who have received vaccines that contain live viruses—such as the yellow fever, polio, or chickenpox vaccines—are asked to wait before donating blood.
• The waiting period for those vaccines doesn’t mean that they’re unsafe; it is just a precaution. Like the COVID-19 vaccines, these vaccines have saved millions of lives and are safe.

Blood donation saves lives and is especially needed right now.

• In January, the Red Cross said there was an emergency blood shortage in the U.S. and that the number of donors hit a 20-year low.
• The organization added that “all blood donations offer the same life-saving therapeutic benefits, regardless of the vaccination status of the donor.”
• Encourage the people in your community to donate if they can. Check out the Red Cross website for donor eligibility requirements and to find a local blood drive.

An analysis of California data found that older adults are most likely to die from COVID-19.

• The Bay Area News Group analyzed COVID-19 deaths in California between September 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, and found that while COVID-19 deaths declined across age groups since 2020, the proportion of COVID-19 deaths in older adults increased.
• People 65 and older made up nearly 90 percent of COVID-19 deaths in California.
• While people can die from a COVID-19 infection at any age, respiratory viruses like COVID-19 are particularly dangerous for older adults because our immune systems weaken as we age, and older adults are more likely to have underlying health conditions.

Improved vaccination coverage in Latino communities has led to declining deaths.

• While Latino individuals made up the largest proportion of COVID-19-related deaths in 2020, the percentage of COVID-19-related Latino deaths decreased and the percentage of white Californians who died from COVID-19 nearly doubled during the analysis period.
• When COVID-19 vaccines became available, Latino communities were not getting vaccinated as quickly as white communities due to lack of access and insufficient outreach, but this trend has changed. In addition, California’s Latino population is younger overall, which reduces the risk of death from COVID-19.
• A 2023 KFF poll found that slightly more Black and Hispanic adults reported getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine compared to white adults. (The poll specifically refers to Hispanic adults.) The poll also found white adults were less likely to take precautions against catching and spreading COVID-19.

COVID-19 is less deadly now than it was in 2020, but the virus is still dangerous for people across demographics.

• A COVID-19 infection can cause severe illness, heart problems, and death. Nearly one in 10 U.S. adults who contracted COVID-19 are suffering from long COVID.
• Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines reduces the risk of complications. Wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask around others also reduces the risk of contracting the virus.
• The CDC recommends people 65 and older receive an additional dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine this spring—if at least four months have passed since their last dose. People who are immunocompromised may receive an additional dose of the updated vaccine at least two months after their last dose.

There is still no single, FDA-approved treatment for long COVID, but doctors can help patients manage individual symptoms.

Therapies, including those to improve lung function and retrain your sense of smell, as well as medications for pain and blood pressure regulation, may be part of long COVID treatment.

Studying myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and HIV may help researchers better understand long COVID and improve treatment options.

Getting diagnosed and treated for long COVID may be challenging for patients—especially for women and people of color, whose symptoms may be dismissed by doctors. Incorporating mental health support and seeking support from loved ones may help patients manage the stress associated with seeking treatment.

Long COVID patients may be eligible for government benefits that can ease financial burdens.

Studies estimate that roughly 4 million people are out of work due to long COVID, and patients may have to travel for treatment.

While long COVID qualifies as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, navigating the application process can be challenging. The Pandemic Legal Assistance Network provides pro bono support for long COVID patients applying for disability benefits.

Long COVID patients may be eligible for other forms of government assistance, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and rental and utility assistance programs.

Getting reinfected with COVID-19 can worsen existing long COVID symptoms, but patients can take steps to stay protected.

Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines dramatically reduces the risk of developing long COVID in the first place.

For patients who already live with long COVID, staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines may improve symptoms and reduce inflammation.

Research shows that wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask reduces the risk of contracting COVID-19—even when others are not masking.

The CDC recommends people 65 and older receive an additional dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine this spring after at least four months since they received a COVID-19 vaccine.

• People who are immunocompromised may receive an additional dose of the updated vaccine at least two months after their last dose.
• The shot would be an additional dose of the updated Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax vaccines that were approved last fall.
• It’s safe to receive an updated vaccine from any of the three manufacturers, regardless of which COVID-19 vaccines you received in the past.
• Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available at pharmacies. Visit Vaccines.gov to find an appointment near you.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting against severe illness, hospitalization, death, and long COVID.

• Last October and November, adults who had recently received an updated COVID-19 vaccine accounted for only 4 percent of COVID-19-related hospitalizations.
• Those who were vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2022—but did not receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine—accounted for 25 percent of COVID-19-related hospitalizations.
• Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines is a safer and more reliable way to build protection against COVID-19 than getting sick from COVID-19.

The CDC has also updated isolation recommendations for people who are sick with COVID-19.

• According to the CDC’s general respiratory virus guidance, people who are sick with COVID-19 or another common respiratory illness, like the flu or RSV, should isolate until they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are improving.
• After that, the CDC recommends that people who are sick take additional precautions for the next five days, including masking while around others and improving ventilation.
• COVID-19 remains a highly contagious disease that can cause severe illness, death, and long-term health complications. If you are sick with COVID-19, you can infect others for five to 12 days, or longer.

Last week, the Washington Post reported that the CDC may loosen its COVID-19 isolation guidelines, but changes haven’t been announced.

• According to the potential updated guidelines, people who test positive for COVID-19 would only need to isolate until they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are improving.
• We don’t know if these guidelines will involve masking or if there will be different guidelines for higher-risk people who are infected with COVID-19.
• The CDC is expected to release its new guidelines for public comment in April.

Current CDC guidelines recommend that people who test positive for COVID-19 isolate for five days.

• The isolation period starts at the onset of symptoms or, if you do not have symptoms, the test date.
• During the five-day isolation period, the CDC recommends wearing a high-quality mask around others, avoiding travel, improving ventilation in your home, and using a separate bathroom and personal items from others in your household.
• If your symptoms do not improve within five days, the CDC says you should continue to isolate until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your symptoms are improving.
• If you know you were exposed to the COVID-19 virus, the CDC recommends wearing a high-quality mask around others for 10 days after exposure and watching for symptoms such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath. If you develop symptoms, get tested as soon as possible and isolate until you get your result.

The contagiousness of COVID-19 has not changed.

• If you are sick with COVID-19, you can infect others for five to 12 days, or longer.
• Moderately or severely immunocompromised patients may remain infectious beyond 20 days.
• Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, wearing a high-quality mask in public spaces, and improving ventilation at indoor gatherings are all effective precautions to protect yourself against COVID-19.

COVID-19 infections can cause long-lasting changes to our immune systems.

• A 2023 study found that COVID-19 infections may reduce our production of “killer T-cells,” which help our bodies fight off infections. 
• Another recent study found that our innate immune cells—our immune systems’ first line of defense—remain altered for at least one year after a COVID-19 infection, causing a long-term inflammatory response.
• These changes to immune cells might make our immune systems less efficient, putting us at greater risk of severe illness from future infections.

Every time we get infected with the COVID-19 virus, our risk of dangerous health outcomes increases.

• A 2022 study found that people who had been infected with COVID-19 at least twice experienced higher rates of short- and long-term health complications compared to those who had only been infected once. 
• Those who had multiple COVID-19 infections were three times more likely to be hospitalized than those who only had one COVID-19 infection. 
• People with multiple COVID-19 infections were also more likely to develop blood clots as well as damage to their heart, lungs, and brain.

COVID-19 vaccines strengthen our immune systems by teaching cells how to respond to the virus.

• The CDC says getting vaccinated is a safer and more reliable way to build protection against COVID-19 than getting sick from the virus. 
• The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Find appointments near you at Vaccines.gov.
• Implementing additional mitigation methods like masking helps prevent immune system damage caused by COVID-19 infections.

Long COVID describes a cluster of symptoms occurring after a COVID-19 infection that can range from mild to debilitating.

• Symptoms may include fatigue, chest pain, brain fog, dizziness, abdominal pain, joint pain, and changes in taste or smell. These symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. 
• Scientists still don’t know why some people develop long COVID. One possibility is that fragments of the virus linger in the body after infection, causing chronic inflammation. Another is that long COVID is an autoimmune disease triggered by a COVID-19 infection.
• There is no specific treatment for long COVID, but health care providers can help patients manage individual symptoms.

Anyone who gets infected with COVID-19 is at risk of developing long COVID, and some populations are at greater risk.

• Unvaccinated people are at greater risk of developing long COVID.
• Women are more likely than men to develop long COVID.
• People who experience health inequities may be more likely to develop long COVID and face barriers to treatment.

Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines is an effective way to reduce your risk of long COVID.

• A meta-analysis of 24 studies found that people who had received three COVID-19 vaccines were 68.7 percent less likely to develop long COVID compared with those who were unvaccinated.
• Another study found that a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine reduced the risk of long COVID by 21 percent, two doses reduced it by 59 percent, and three or more doses reduced it by 73 percent.
• The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Find appointments near you at Vaccines.gov.

DNA fragments are present in all vaccines, but they cannot change our bodies’ DNA.

• Scientists use cells to produce vaccines, and those cells contain DNA. When our bodies are exposed to DNA fragments in vaccines, our bodies destroy them. 
• It is biologically impossible for DNA fragments in vaccines to change our own DNA because they lack the mechanism required to enter the cell nuclei, where our DNA lives. 
• Regulators around the world agree that the level of DNA fragments in COVID-19 vaccines is well below the acceptable limit.

Lipid (fat) nanoparticles in mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

• mRNA is fragile, so it needs to be surrounded by fat bubbles called lipid nanoparticles in order to travel throughout the body and teach our cells how to protect against COVID-19.
• Lipid-based drug delivery systems have been studied for more than 40 years and have been determined to be safe. Without them, COVID-19 vaccines would not exist.
• Lipid nanoparticles in COVID-19 vaccine are cleared from the body within days.

There is strong evidence that COVID-19 vaccines do not cause cancer.

• Florida’s surgeon general and others have falsely claimed that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines contain SV40, a virus that has been suspected of causing cancer.
• The SV40 virus is not present in COVID-19 vaccines, but a piece of SV40’s DNA sequence was used as “starting material” to develop COVID-19 vaccines.
• This sequence has been used to develop other vaccines, such as the flu vaccine, which has been safely administered for decades.

Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, is most commonly caused by a viral infection.

• Bacteria, parasites, fungi, chemicals, and certain medications can also cause myocarditis.
• Symptoms of myocarditis include chest pain, shortness of breath, and rapid or irregular heart rhythms. While some cases may be severe, most resolve themselves without permanent complications.
• Cases of myocarditis after vaccination have occurred in less than 1 percent of people, and those cases were usually mild. Among vaccine-induced myocarditis patients, 2 percent went to the ICU and nearly all recovered fully.

A COVID-19 infection is much more likely to cause myocarditis than a COVID-19 vaccine, and those cases are typically more severe.

• Among patients who experienced myocarditis after a viral infection, half went to the ICU, a quarter did not fully recover, and up to 22 percent died.
• A 2022 study found that people who contracted COVID-19 were seven times more likely to develop myocarditis than those who received the vaccine.
• The benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any potential risks because getting vaccinated reduces the risk of getting myocarditis after a COVID-19 infection.

Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from myocarditis.

• Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 also reduces the risk of hospitalization, death, and long COVID.
• The updated COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older.
• Schedule an appointment today near you at Vaccines.gov.

Breathing cold air reduces our noses’ ability to fight off viruses.

• A 2022 study found that reducing the temperature inside the nose by as little as 9 degrees Fahrenheit kills nearly half of the virus-fighting cells in our nostrils.
• In addition to protecting you from inhaling viral particles, wearing a mask over your nose and mouth can prevent you from breathing in the cold winter air, keeping your nose warm and protecting your virus-fighting cells.
• Keeping your home warm and humid can protect your nose’s virus-fighting cells.

Indoor heating dries out the air, allowing viruses to spread more easily.

• When indoor air is dry, there are fewer water molecules available to slow down particles expelled through coughing and sneezing.
• Using humidifiers indoors during colder months may reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.
• Improving indoor ventilation by opening doors and windows, investing in high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, or building your own Corsi-Rosenthal box can also reduce the spread of airborne respiratory viruses indoors.

During the holiday season, we spend more time gathering indoors, giving our bodies more opportunities to encounter germs.

• If you still haven’t received an updated COVID-19 vaccine, flu shot, and RSV vaccine (if you’re eligible), schedule an appointment today at Vaccines.gov.
• Wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask indoors protects you from all kinds of viruses, including COVID-19, the flu, and RSV.
• The CDC says washing your hands regularly can prevent one in five respiratory infections.

If you still haven’t received an updated COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot, schedule an appointment now at Vaccines.gov.

• The updated COVID-19 vaccine targets the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 and may also protect us against newer, currently circulating variants. This season’s flu vaccine protects us against currently circulating flu strains.
• Getting this season’s updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines reduces your risk of related hospitalization and death.
• The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. The RSV vaccine is recommended for pregnant people and people 60 and older.

Wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask when you travel.

• Masks protect us from all kinds of viruses, including COVID-19, the flu, and RSV.
• The CDC recommends masking indoors on planes, trains, buses, and boats, as well as at transportation hubs since we’re likely to encounter germs in crowded spaces.
• N95 and KN95 masks offer the best protection since they filter out at least 95 percent of infectious particles when they fit properly.

If you’re hosting a gathering, improve ventilation in your household.

• Open windows and doors to increase airflow and reduce the spread of airborne respiratory viruses.
• Consider investing in high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which clean the air by efficiently removing more than 99 percent of particles.
• If HEPA filters are outside of your budget, you can build your own Corsi-Rosenthal box, which can capture about 85 percent of infectious particles.

People who are or were recently pregnant are more likely to become seriously sick from a COVID-19 infection.

• Pregnancy can cause diabetes and high blood pressure, which increase the risk of severe symptoms from a COVID-19 infection.
• Getting infected with COVID-19 while pregnant can nearly double the risk of preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication that can be life-threatening.
• Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccination protects pregnant people against severe illness and death from the virus, prevents adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, and passes protective antibodies to the fetus.

If a pregnant person gets infected with COVID-19, their baby is at risk of severe outcomes.

• A COVID-19 infection may result in miscarriage, preterm birth, or stillbirth, even when the pregnant person isn’t experiencing severe symptoms.
• A COVID-19 infection may also impact the fetus’s brain development.
• Getting vaccinated during pregnancy is safe for the developing fetus. Babies who are exposed to COVID-19 vaccines in utero are protected up to 6 months and less likely to die or be admitted to a NICU than those who are not exposed to COVID-19 vaccines.

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and recommended for pregnant people.

• Dozens of studies show that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is safe for people who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. There is strong evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t impact fertility.
• The CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, and trying to get pregnant.
• Visit Vaccines.gov to find pharmacies near you offering the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine is now available and recommended for everyone 12 and older.

• People 12 and older who have never been vaccinated against COVID-19 can receive 2 doses of Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine.
• People who have received any previous COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for 1 dose of the updated vaccines from Novavax, Pfizer, or Moderna.
• People who are immunocompromised may need additional doses.
• If you currently have a COVID-19 infection, the CDC recommends you wait until your symptoms resolve to get your updated COVID-19 vaccine. If you recently had the virus, you should consider waiting 3 months to get vaccinated since studies show this may improve your immune response.

Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine is different from Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines, but they are all safe and effective at protecting us against the virus.

• Novavax uses a coronavirus protein to prompt an immune response against COVID-19. Pfizer and Moderna use mRNA technology to teach cells how to prompt an immune response against COVID-19.
• The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine uses the same technology as the flu shot, so those who are hesitant about mRNA technology may prefer it.
• The CDC says staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines is a safer and more reliable way to build protection against COVID-19 than getting sick from COVID-19.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available at pharmacies.

• Visit Vaccines.gov to find pharmacies near you offering updated COVID-19 vaccines from Novavax, Pfizer, and Moderna.
• If you have private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, your updated vaccine is free upfront as long as you see an in-network provider.
• Under- and uninsured people can get the updated COVID-19 vaccine for free through the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is available now for free at pharmacies, but the current supply is limited.

• Visit Vaccines.gov to find pharmacies near you offering the updated vaccine. You may have to check the website frequently to find an available appointment.
• Supply chain issues have made the updated vaccine difficult to access, but CVS and Walgreens have resolved their shipping delays.
• If you’re one of the many parents struggling to find available vaccines for your children, schedule your own appointment now and continue checking Vaccines.gov in the coming weeks.

If you have private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, your updated COVID-19 vaccine is free.

• Contact your insurance company to find an in-network pharmacy offering the updated vaccine.
• If no pharmacy in your plan’s network has the vaccine, your insurance company should still cover the cost, even if you get it at a pharmacy that’s out of network.
• If you are getting the updated vaccine from an out-of-network provider, you may have to pay for the vaccine (up to $200) upfront and get reimbursed by your insurance later. You may be able to file a reimbursement claim on your insurer’s website or print and mail your insurance company a physical copy of your claim.
• Some people have been asked to pay for their vaccines upfront at in-network pharmacies. This was a result of billing code issues, and insurers say those issues have been resolved.

Under- and uninsured adults can get the updated COVID-19 vaccine for free through the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.

• To find pharmacies and health centers partnering with the Bridge Access Program, visit Vaccines.gov, click on “Find COVID-19 Vaccines,” enter your zip code and select the vaccine option you want, click on “Search for COVID-19 Vaccines,” and check “Bridge Access Program Participant.” You can also call 1-800-232-0233. Anyone who needs a single dose of the updated vaccine can receive Pfizer’s or Moderna’s vaccine, regardless of your previous vaccines’ manufacturer.
• Children can get the vaccine for free through the Vaccines for Children program, but appointments are currently hard to find.
• If you’re over 60 and unable to leave your home, call the Aging Network at 1-800-677-1116 to learn about free, at-home vaccination options. If you’re disabled and unable to leave your home, call the Disability Information and Access Line at 1-888-677-1199.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is now available and recommended for everyone 6 months and older.

• Anyone 5 years or older is eligible to receive one dose of Pfizer’s or Moderna’s updated vaccine, regardless of previous COVID-19 vaccination status.
• People who are immunocompromised and children 6 months to 4 years may need additional doses.
• If you’ve had a recent COVID-19 infection, the CDC suggests delaying vaccination for three months from when your symptoms started or from when you received a positive test result.

Getting your updated COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to remain protected against the virus.

• Adults who are 75 and older have the highest rate of COVID-19 hospitalization.
• Infants 6 months and younger have the second-highest rate of COVID-19 hospitalization.
• The CDC says getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine provides a safer and more reliable way to build protection against COVID-19 than getting sick from COVID-19.

The benefits of getting the updated shot outweigh the risks across age groups.

• COVID-19 hospitalization rates are higher than those for other vaccine-preventable diseases, like chickenpox, hepatitis A, and pneumococcal disease.
• Potential cases of post-vaccine myocarditis are extremely rare and usually mild. A COVID-19 infection is more likely to cause myocarditis, and those cases are typically more severe. This is even true among young men, who are most likely to experience myocarditis from vaccines. The CDC continues to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older.
• Vaccination can reduce the risk of developing long COVID.

BA.2.86, now dubbed Pirola, may be less contagious than experts first thought.

• Several lab results have shown that our bodies can fight off BA.2.86 as well as or even more effectively than other currently circulating variants.
• This means that “we can expect BA.2.86 to cause infections, but not as much as anticipated,” according to Your Local Epidemiologist.
• Lab results also showed that people who had a recent XBB infection had the highest level of protection against BA.2.86.

BA.2.86 continues to spread but not as fast as the first Omicron variant.

• BA.2.86 has now been detected in more than a dozen countries, including the U.S., Portugal, South Africa, and the U.K.
• Some data suggests that the variant is not spreading as fast as the first Omicron variant but faster than XBB.
• Scientists initially thought that BA.2.86 would cause a wave similar to that of Omicron’s first variant, BA.1, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Bill Hanage, a Harvard University epidemiologist, wrote in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), “This is not the second coming of Omicron. If it were, it is safe to say we would know by now.”

The upcoming fall vaccines are expected to help protect us against BA.2.86, and so are some existing treatments.

• Because lab results showed that people with the strongest response to BA.2.86 were those with a previous XBB infection, this fall’s updated vaccines—which are designed to fight off XBB.1.5—are expected to provide protection against the new variant.
• Antiviral treatments like Paxlovid have been proven to be effective at protecting us against BA.2.86.

Most COVID-19 indicators continue to rise in the U.S.

• Most COVID-19 indicators continue to rise, according to the CDC: hospital admissions, emergency department visits, test positivity, and wastewater levels.
• Hospital admissions rose by 18.8 percent between August 13 and August 19, while deaths rose by 21.4 percent in the same timeframe.
• Notably, emergency department visits for COVID-19 have increased significantly among children younger than 1. Dr. Dean Winslow, professor of medicine at Stanford University, told Everyday Health that this may be because babies younger than 6 months are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, which may make them more vulnerable.
• The EG.5 Omicron subvariant (also called Eris) is likely contributing to the current summer wave.

BA.2.86 is concerning because it is a highly mutated variant.

• A new subvariant, BA.2.86, was recently detected in the U.S., Denmark, the U.K., and Israel. Because it’s been identified in multiple countries and also in wastewater, we know more cases are spreading undetected in communities.
• BA.2.86 is a highly mutated variant, meaning it’s significantly different from more recent variants. Its genetic changes are concerning to some experts because they could potentially help the variant better evade a person’s prior immunity.
• We don’t yet know if WHO will label BA.2.86 a variant of concern, like Omicron. If it does, the next Greek name in line is Pi.
• We also don’t yet know if the variant will cause more severe disease or be more transmissible.

But it’s not all bad news: BA.2.86 is still COVID-19.

• As Your Local Epidemiologist states, this new variant is still COVID-19, so our immune systems will recognize it.
• The variant can also be detected on a PCR test, so it’s easier to track.
• We’ll have more information soon; WHO, the CDC, and scientists are working to determine how our immune systems react to BA.2.86 in the real world and how well treatments like Paxlovid work against it.

COVID-19 metrics are up across the country.

• Most COVID-19 indicators are increasing nationally: Hospital admissions, emergency department visits, test positivity, and wastewater levels are all on the rise.
• Hospital admissions increased 12.5 percent between July 23 and July 29, considered the most alarming increase.
• However, experts agree that the numbers are still very low compared to past years. And the CDC says the current number of deaths is the lowest since the agency started tracking them at the beginning of the pandemic.

Experts think the wave could be due to waning immunity and indoor activities because of the heat.

• Some experts believe this wave wasn’t caused by a new variant because all the current variants are Omicron descendants.
• Others point to how fast the COVID-19 virus continues to mutate, compared to, for instance, the flu.
• The wave could be due to our waning immunity and, most importantly, people moving back indoors for activities because of the heat.
• The bivalent booster from last fall is not as effective against the new XBB Omicron subvariants, which are the current dominant strains.

Immunocompromised people and older adults should talk to their health care provider about possibly getting a booster.

• Should you get boosted now? Some experts suggest that those who are not at high risk should probably wait until new fall boosters are available, between late September and early October.
• But older adults and immunocompromised people (especially those who have not yet gotten their bivalent booster) should talk to their health care provider about the possibility of getting boosted now.
• The CDC says that people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and are not high risk should make their own decisions about masking and visiting crowded places.
• It may also be a good idea for everyone to stock up on rapid tests and high-quality masks.

Several COVID-19 indicators showed small increases.

• The CDC reported that the U.S. is seeing increases in most COVID-19 indicators: hospital admissions, emergency department visits, test positivity, and wastewater levels.
• The increase in hospital admissions comes after early indicators showed an increase for two weeks in a row, reported the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

The World Health Organization is monitoring a new COVID-19 subvariant.

• On July 19, WHO added EG.5 to the list of variants the agency is monitoring.
• EG.5 is an Omicron subvariant and a descendant of XBB.1.9.2.
• The proportion of EG.5 has been increasing in the U.S. over the last few weeks.
• However, it’s important to note that WHO says there’s no evidence so far that EG.5 is contributing to an increase in cases or deaths.

Deaths are not increasing, which is good news.

• While there are some indicators on the rise, others are not, which is a good sign.
• Deaths (considered one of the more accurate indicators) have not increased in the U.S.
• It’s a good idea to remain cautious, especially for older adults and people who are immunocompromised.

U.S. excess deaths have fallen to under 1 percent, but other metrics have increased.

• Several databases, including the CDC’s, indicate that over the past three months, U.S. excess deaths have fallen to under 1 percent. This means that the number of Americans dying every day is no longer abnormally high.
• This is a big milestone in the fight against COVID-19, especially considering that excess deaths during the past three years have ranged between above 10 percent and over 30 percent at their highest.
• However, it’s important to note that people in the U.S. are still dying from COVID-19. According to the CDC, 324 people died from COVID-19 during the first week of July.
• This means the pandemic is not quite over.
• Some metrics point to an increase in cases. The University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy reports that emergency department visits for COVID-19 are up 10.7 percent compared to the previous week, and test positivity also rose slightly in the U.S. Additionally, wastewater surveillance, which is usually an early COVID-19 indicator, is showing an increase in several U.S. regions.

Vaccination is a big reason why excess deaths have significantly dropped.

• According to the CDC, 81.4 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 69.5 percent completed their primary series.
• As the New York Times points out, most of the people who are dying from COVID-19 are both older and unvaccinated.
• This means that vaccination is a significant factor in whether a person dies from COVID-19.

Experts also credit treatments and natural immunity.

• Antiviral COVID-19 treatments like Paxlovid are also behind the decrease in excess deaths.
• Paxlovid, an oral pill that received full FDA approval in May, reduces hospitalization and death by 86 percent in unvaccinated, high-risk people.
• The fact that around 77.5 percent of people 16 and older in the U.S. have antibodies from COVID-19 infection is another reason why we may have reached this milestone.

We will have vaccines to protect against COVID-19, the flu, and RSV this fall.

• COVID-19, the flu, and RSV are all respiratory illnesses that are expected to spike in the fall and winter.
• Getting vaccinated against these viruses can help us prevent a tripledemic.
• Our COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots are being updated to target currently circulating strains of their respective virus.
• The CDC recently approved the first RSV vaccines for older adults.
• Each of these new and updated shots is expected to be available by fall.

All three vaccines will be especially important for older adults.

• Older adults are especially vulnerable to severe illness, hospitalization, and death if infected with any of these viruses, which is why vaccines are so important for this population.
• We don’t know yet who will be eligible for the updated COVID-19 vaccines, but they will most likely be available to older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
• The annual flu shot is recommended for anyone ages 6 months and older.
• The new RSV vaccines will only be available to adults ages 60 and older, but an RSV vaccine for pregnant people to protect newborns is going through the FDA approval process.
• While RSV is most common among infants and young kids, it is also dangerous to older adults. The virus may lead to as many as 160,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths among adults ages 65 and older every year.

Talk to your doctor about what vaccines you should get and when you should get them.

• For RSV vaccines, the CDC recommends older adults talk to their doctor to determine if they should get a shot.
• While experts are still figuring out if people should get all three vaccines at the same time, we do know that the COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot work well when given together.
• Everyone, especially older adults and immunocompromised individuals, should talk to their health care provider within the next couple of months about how to stay safe against COVID-19, the flu, and RSV this winter.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines are coming this fall.

• The FDA decided that the updated COVID-19 vaccines for this fall should target a single strain: XBB.1.5.
• The Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 is currently the predominant strain in the U.S.
• Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax have already started developing versions of their monovalent vaccines that target XBB.1.5.
• Preliminary data from those companies shows that their updated shots produce strong immune responses against all XBB variants.

The goal is to start distributing the updated vaccines as early as September.

• The updated vaccines are able to be developed within a few months because they involve tweaks to the original COVID-19 vaccine formulas.
• Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax will still need to present safety and efficacy data to the FDA and CDC to receive authorization for their updated vaccines.
• We don’t know yet who will be eligible to receive the updated vaccines, but booster shots are most important for older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and people with underlying medical conditions.

COVID-19’s behavior in the coming months will help us see if the virus is falling into a seasonal pattern.

• So far, the COVID-19 virus has been unpredictable in the way that it mutates and spreads, making it difficult to produce vaccines that keep up with its changes.
• There’s a chance that XBB.1.5 will no longer be the most common strain by the time the updated vaccines are ready to be distributed.
• But the updated vaccines are expected to increase our protection against a wider range of strains, not just XBB.1.5.
• For the long term, it’s important for the government to invest in vaccines that provide broader and more durable protection against COVID-19 virus variants and other potential coronaviruses.

Inform your community about how vaccine opponents tend to spread misinformation.

• Research shows that when people are aware of the motives and tactics of bad actors, they are more likely to identify misinformation and be wary of it.
• Vaccine opponents often spread misinformation by cherry-picking data, taking experts’ quotes out of context, and making claims that elicit an emotional response.
• Encourage community members to check the reputation of the author or source and whether there is robust evidence to back the claim before believing and/or resharing something that seems shocking.
• Remind community members to pay extra attention when encountering emotionally charged or divisive topics.

Address people’s concerns around vaccines with empathy and patience.

• Many people have low levels of trust in the government, health care system, and pharmaceutical industry for good reason. Poor public health communication around COVID-19 vaccines has also caused confusion and anxiety among the public
• Some people have legitimate concerns around the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, and it’s important to address these questions with empathy and patience.
• Deliver facts and data in an easy-to-understand way; correct misinformation with care rather than condescension; and build a trusted relationship with your community members.

Beware that vaccine opponents may be seeking attention for personal gain.

• While many people spread vaccine misinformation unintentionally, the biggest anti-vaccine personalities can make a career out of promoting false claims and conspiracy theories.
• For example, some high-profile vaccine opponents may be motivated to share controversial or false claims on the internet to gain followers, generate interest in their websites, or sell books or other products.
• When thinking about who or what to trust, you can look to nonpartisan fact-checking sources like FactCheck.org and PolitiFact.
• If you are looking into claims on your own, be sure to follow evidence-based science, including peer-reviewed research and experts in the field who have no conflicts of interest.

Improving indoor air can protect against COVID-19 and other health hazards.

• Viruses like COVID-19 spread more easily indoors because there is less ventilation.
• Pollutants like dust, wildfire smoke, and nitrogen dioxide from cooking can also build up indoors and become health hazards.
• The CDC recommends replacing the air in a room at least five times an hour to reduce the amount of germs in a space.
• There are two ways to improve indoor air quality: through ventilation (circulating outdoor air into a closed space) and through filtration (removing unwanted particles from the air).

Ventilation can help reduce the concentration of unwanted particles in the air.

• Opening the windows is the simplest ventilation tool. You can get more consistent air flow by setting up a fan in front of the window, facing outward.
• But opening the windows only works if the air outside is healthy. If the outdoor air quality is poor, keep the windows closed and opt for air filtration tools.
• CO2 monitors can be used to understand how well-ventilated a space is. If CO2 levels exceed what’s considered normal for your space or 800 parts per million, you may need to increase ventilation or air cleaning.

Air filtration tools like Corsi-Rosenthal boxes and air purifiers can clean the air in your space and help protect against COVID-19.

• The Corsi-Rosenthal box is an easy, cost-effective air filtration tool that you can build yourself as a temporary measure. It cleans the air in a room by trapping unwanted particles—including viruses, dust, and wildfire smoke—in its MERV filters.
• Air purifiers with HEPA filters are the preferred filtration tool and should be used whenever possible. They work like Corsi-Rosenthal boxes but are typically better at trapping particles and have established standards for air quality.
• Your HVAC system can also help clean the air in your home, but you may need to upgrade the filters to MERV-13 or HEPA so that the system is able to trap more particles.
• Remember to replace the filters in the devices and systems you use every few months to ensure that they work properly.

COVID-19 is no longer an emergency, so funding around it is changing.

• Now that the COVID-19 public health emergency is over, we can no longer rely on special funding for the virus. COVID-19 is now another health topic that needs to be budgeted for.
• To prepare for these changes, agencies and organizations working on COVID-19 should aim to diversify their funding and potentially broaden the range of health topics that they cover.
• Over the last few years, the federal government distributed $4.6 trillion in pandemic relief. The government is now clawing back $27 billion of unspent pandemic relief money as part of the debt-ceiling deal.

The clawback targets programs that have already ended or no longer need immediate funds.

• The $27 billion being clawed back is a tiny fraction of the total $4.6 trillion distributed for pandemic relief. More than $4.2 trillion had already been spent as of January 2023.
• Some of the returned money will come from programs that have ended or where there are no immediate demands.
• Many of the funds are not directly related to combating COVID-19 but are rather unspent funds from pandemic-era programs around unemployment insurance, highway infrastructure, and the food system.
• According to the White House, some of the clawed-back money will be used to support nondefense spending.

Billions will remain in place for investing in top COVID-19 priorities.

• About $13 billion of unspent pandemic relief money will stay in place.
• This includes more than $10 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services to invest in next-generation vaccines, testing capacity, and long COVID research. HHS announced in May a $5 billion initiative called Project NextGen that will aim to develop better vaccines and treatments.
• The CDC will keep around $1.5 billion for tracking COVID-19 variants and investing in vaccine safety and effectiveness programs.
• Funds will also remain for programs such as veteran health benefits, the Indian Health Service, and low-income rental assistance.

Paxlovid received full FDA approval for high-risk adults.

• Paxlovid has been available for people ages 12 and older under an emergency use authorization (EUA) since December 2021.
• Now, the antiviral pill is fully approved by the FDA to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in high-risk adults.
• This decision means there is extensive data showing Paxlovid’s safety and effectiveness. The standards for full approval are stricter than those for an EUA.
• The drug’s full approval will eventually give doctors more freedom in how they use it, such as the ability to prescribe it for long COVID symptoms or prescribe a longer course to prevent rebound.
• Paxlovid is still available for kids ages 12 and older under an EUA.

Paxlovid is expected to remain free for everyone for at least the next few months.

• U.S. pharmacies and health care providers still have millions of Paxlovid doses available. These doses will remain free for everyone.
• Once this supply runs out, the cost of Paxlovid will fall on health insurers and patients.
• In order to ensure access for uninsured people after the current supply runs out, the U.S. plans to cover Paxlovid’s costs through a “bridge access program” with pharmacies, though the details are still unclear.

The FDA confirms there are no major safety concerns around Paxlovid.

• Paxlovid is very effective in lowering the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19. One trial found that the drug reduced the risk by 86 percent in unvaccinated adults who had no prior infection.
• Paxlovid is very safe, but it has the potential to react negatively with other medications, mainly immunosuppressants. As of January, the FDA recorded 271 reports of serious adverse events potentially related to drug interactions with Paxlovid.
• Review the National Institutes of Health’s guidance on how to administer Paxlovid if you’re on certain medications with your health care provider.

Get up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines before your trip.

• Even though the majority of countries no longer require travelers to be vaccinated, getting up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines a couple of weeks before your trip is the best way to stay safe.
• If you are age 6 or older, you now need one bivalent vaccine in order to be up to date, regardless of how many shots you received in the past.
• People who are ages 65 and older or immunocompromised have the option to get an additional bivalent booster.
• Younger kids still need to complete their entire primary series, but they will now get their remaining shots with bivalent vaccines.

Masking and testing continue to be good ways to reduce transmission.

• Most airlines no longer require masks, and many countries have ended COVID-19 testing requirements. But these measures continue to be important to limit transmission.
• Consider wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask in crowded, indoor areas, such as the plane, train station, or shopping mall, especially if you are high-risk or immunocompromised.
• Testing before and after travel is key to reducing the virus’s spread, even if you don’t have symptoms.

Keep track of COVID-19 in the area you’re visiting.

• Even if COVID-19 is in relatively low circulation where you live, this may not be the case in the country or city you’re traveling to.
• Do some research before your travels and keep track of the COVID-19 situation in your travel destination.
• Check if your health insurance covers care abroad and consider travel health insurance if you are at higher risk of falling ill.
• Bring your health documents and extra medication in case you need to stay for longer than planned.
• Think through the risks you’re willing to take, considering that you may have to seek care and isolate abroad if you catch COVID-19 on your travels.

The CDC set a first-ever target for how much ventilation a building should have to prevent virus spread.

• The CDC’s Ventilation in Buildings guidance includes recommendations on how much ventilation is needed indoors.
• The agency recommends at least 5 air changes per hour (ACH) of clean air to “help reduce the number of germs in the air.” In an op-ed about the news, Joseph G. Allen, a Harvard University professor, explained that the goal is to replace the air in a room five or more times an hour. To put it in context, he said a typical home has less than 0.5 ACH.
• It’s the first time in history that the agency set a specific ventilation target to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.

Improving ventilation indoors can help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

• The updated guidance is especially important as we enter a new stage of the pandemic following the end of the country’s COVID-19 public health emergency.
• The new recommendation will help prevent the indoor spread of COVID-19, other airborne viruses like the flu, and hazards like wildfire smoke.
• Ventilation mitigation strategies can help reduce the concentration of viral particles in the air. The lower the concentration, the less likely the viral particles can be inhaled into the lungs; reach the eyes, the mouth, and the nose; or accumulate on surfaces.

There are many easy ways to improve air circulation and cleanliness indoors.

• The CDC’s guidance offers a detailed list of ways to improve air quality indoors.
• Open windows (when the weather allows) to increase outdoor air flow.
• Use a window fan to “exhaust room air to the outdoors."
• To improve air cleanliness, the CDC suggests inspecting HVAC systems and using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

The CDC will end its county-level COVID-19 tracking system.

• The CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels program tracks the virus’s impact in each U.S. county based on a combination of hospitalization and case data.
• This county-level tracking system is expected to end with the expiration of the national public health emergency on May 11, as the CDC will lose its authority to collect COVID-19 testing data from state and local health agencies.
• According to a CDC spokesperson, “We are working to update the measure used to convey the risk of COVID-19 in communities based on data that will be available."
• COVID-19 Community Levels is one of many tracking systems that have shut down over the last few months as the virus’s threat diminishes.

The CDC will rely more heavily on COVID-19 hospitalization data.

• Going forward, the CDC will focus on tracking hospitalizations to monitor the spread of COVID-19, similar to the way the agency monitors the flu.
• This makes sense since the government’s goal at this point is to limit severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
• But by relying solely on hospitalization data, we run the risk of delaying our response to the next surge, as hospitalizations tend to be a lagging indicator of COVID-19 spread.

COVID-19 wastewater surveillance can fill the gap as an early indicator.

• Wastewater surveillance can be a reliable source for early warnings about potential new COVID-19 variants or surges.
• The CDC has its own COVID-19 wastewater surveillance system. Biobot Analytics also collects COVID-19 data from its network of wastewater treatment plants.
• Overall, though, the country’s wastewater surveillance network remains patchy, as not all counties have a sewage testing site.

Everyone ages 6 and older should get one bivalent vaccine, regardless of vaccination history.

• The CDC is no longer recommending the original monovalent COVID-19 vaccines since we now have updated bivalent vaccines that target more recent variants.
• This means that, for anyone who isn’t up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, the next step is to get a bivalent dose.
• If you haven’t started or completed your primary series, you now need one bivalent vaccine to be up to date.
• If you’ve completed your primary series but haven’t yet received a bivalent booster, get a bivalent booster to be up to date.
• If you’ve already received a bivalent booster, you’re all set and well protected against severe disease.
• Only people who are ages 65 and older or immunocompromised can get an additional bivalent booster.

Young kids still need to complete their primary series, but it will now be with bivalent vaccines.

• Kids ages 6 months to 4 years are eligible for Pfizer’s three-dose primary series. Kids ages 6 months to 5 years are eligible for Moderna’s two-dose primary series.
• If your kid hasn’t started or completed their primary series, they should get their remaining shots with bivalent vaccines to be up to date.
• Only kids who completed their entire primary series with the original monovalent vaccines are eligible to receive one bivalent booster to be up to date.

Even though COVID-19 has been on the decline, it’s still important for everyone to be up to date.

• Most people have some sort of immunity against COVID-19 at this point, but following the CDC’s updated vaccine guidance ensures that you receive the most robust and up-to-date protection.
• The COVID-19 virus is still circulating and mutating, and the bivalent vaccines are the best tools we have to arm our immune systems with the necessary defenses.
• Because immunity wanes over time, people who are ages 65 and older or immunocompromised are eligible for and should consider getting an additional bivalent booster this spring. The majority of COVID-19 deaths have been among people ages 65 and older and people with comorbidities.

Older adults and immunocompromised people can get a second bivalent booster this spring.

• The FDA and CDC are allowing older adults and immunocompromised people to receive a second bivalent booster for added protection this spring.
• People ages 65 and older are able to get an additional shot at least four months after their first bivalent booster, while immunocompromised people can get theirs at least two months after.
• The protection that people with vulnerable immune systems gain from vaccines tends to fade faster, so an additional dose is more important for these populations.
• More than 88 percent of COVID-19 deaths this year have been among people ages 65 and older. Nearly everyone who died of COVID-19 had another medical condition, such as another respiratory disease, high blood pressure, or Alzheimer’s.

COVID-19 is not like the flu yet.

• So far, more than 30,000 people have died from COVID-19 in 2023. For about two-thirds of these deaths, the virus was the direct cause. For the remaining deaths, the virus was a contributing cause.
• COVID-19 deaths since January are only a fraction of what we saw during the same period last year, when Omicron strains were spreading much more rapidly.
• But compared to the number of deaths from the flu and pneumonia so far this year, the number of COVID-19 deaths is still significantly higher.
• More people have died from COVID-19 than from diabetes or Alzheimer’s in 2023 when including deaths in which the virus was a contributing cause.

CDC confirms COVID-19 deaths are not being overcounted.

• There has been a lot of misinformation around how the CDC counts COVID-19 deaths, but the agency confirmed early this year that it is not overcounting.
• The CDC’s provisional COVID-19 death count only includes people who have COVID-19 listed on their death certificate, which means the virus directly caused or contributed to their death.
• This method differs from how the CDC tracks COVID-19 hospitalization data, which includes everyone testing positive for COVID-19 regardless of their reason for hospital admission.
• Some experts believe we have undercounted COVID-19 deaths. One indicator is that there have been more than 1.3 million excess deaths since February 2020, compared to 1.1 million COVID-19 deaths recorded by the CDC.

The most vulnerable people may be able to get a second bivalent booster in a few weeks.

• The FDA is expected to authorize a second bivalent booster for adults ages 65 and older and immunocompromised people at least four months after their first bivalent booster.
• The protection that people with vulnerable immune systems gain from vaccines tends to fade faster, so an additional dose is more important for these populations.
• The CDC will likely sign off on authorizing a second bivalent booster without explicitly recommending it, leaving the choice to patients and their health care providers.
• The bivalent boosters would be free since the government still has a large stockpile of the vaccines.

A reformulated booster is expected to be available to everyone later this year.

• By late summer or early fall, the government is expected to roll out a reformulated COVID-19 booster that targets newer, more relevant strains.
• This booster will likely be available to the majority of the population and serve to protect people ahead of a potential winter surge.
• The plan is to roll out a new booster every year, following a similar schedule to the annual flu shot.

The government is dedicating $5 billion to the development of new coronavirus vaccines and treatments.

• We’ve experienced three coronavirus-driven outbreaks in the last two decades: SARS in 2002, MERS in 2012, and COVID-19 in 2020. It’s never too early to prepare for the next pandemic.
• The government is launching Project Next Gen, a $5 billion program that aims to speed up development of new coronavirus vaccines and treatments.
• The program plans to develop better monoclonal antibody treatments, nasal spray vaccines, and pan-coronavirus vaccines that protect against future COVID-19 variants as well as other coronaviruses.

The World Health Organization (WHO) still recommends COVID-19 vaccines.

• The new WHO guidance recommends that countries focus on vaccinating and boosting people at highest risk of severe disease, including older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and people with underlying health conditions.
• The new guidance considers healthy kids to be a lower priority group since it is rare for them to experience severe disease. WHO says countries should prioritize getting healthy kids vaccinated against diseases that are more dangerous to them, such as rotavirus and measles.
• WHO confirms that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are safe and effective in children and teens and still supports COVID-19 vaccination for healthy kids if countries have the means.

WHO provides guidance for countries around the world, while the CDC issues guidance specific to the U.S.

• Countries around the world have different financial resources and health care capacities. The new WHO guidance urges countries to think through their priorities at this stage of the pandemic.
• WHO’s revised COVID-19 vaccine guidance is not a vote against vaccines. The pandemic has changed, so guidance evolves, too.
• The WHO guidance is also not meant to directly inform the American public. The CDC’s guidance is specific to the U.S. and currently recommends COVID-19 vaccines and bivalent boosters for kids as young as 6 months.

All health organizations agree that COVID-19 boosters are most important for high-risk people.

• Getting boosted is essential for older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and people with underlying health conditions because their immune systems are weaker.
• Healthy young people don’t receive as much added benefit from COVID-19 boosters as high-risk people do, but staying up to date on vaccines is still the best way for anyone to be protected against the virus.
• Kids are relatively unlikely to experience severe disease from COVID-19, but the virus is still a leading cause of death among children in the U.S.