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If you’re wondering when you should get the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, you’re not alone. We’ve received many questions about this and wanted to provide some guidance. As always, if you have further questions regarding COVID-19 vaccines and your personal medical situation, contact your health care provider.

In a nutshell, everyone ages 6 months and older is eligible and recommended to receive one dose of the new 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, and generally speaking, any brand will do, as soon as possible.

If only it were that simple! (It almost is.)

Here are some common scenarios with our recommendations:

I recently had COVID-19.

You can wait about 90 days from the time you were infected to get the updated shot. That’s because being infected with virus strains circulating currently or over the summer protects you as much as, or more than, the updated vaccine would. Waiting 90 days is not a rule, however, and if you haven’t received the 2024-2025 vaccine yet, you can get it any time.

I received the previous (2023-2024) COVID-19 vaccine over the summer.

Get the updated shot now. It will provide better protection against currently circulating variants than the previous version of the vaccine you received over the summer.

I am planning to travel for the holidays and want to be protected during my trip.

At this point, there’s no good reason to wait (unless you had a recent COVID-19 infection, in which case you can wait 90 days from the time of infection, if you want). Keep in mind that after receiving the shot it will take time for your body to fully respond, so try to get vaccinated at least two weeks before your scheduled departure. Then, you should be well protected against severe COVID-19 illness for at least several months.

I recently received the updated (2024-2025) vaccine. When can I get a booster dose?

At this time there is no recommendation for booster doses for non-immunocompromised people. In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a booster dose of the previous version (2023-2024) of the vaccine for people ages 65+. We will have to wait to see if the CDC recommends an additional dose of the current (2024-2025) COVID-19 vaccine for older people. If that happens, we will update this blog with the latest recommendations.

I am immunocompromised or I live with someone who is immunocompromised.

This is always reason for extra concern and less delay, and you should receive the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. After that, if you are immunocompromised the CDC has authorized additional doses for you, and we recommend discussing it with your health care provider.

Being immunocompromised means you have one or more conditions that weaken your immune system, or you are taking medicines that weaken your immune system. As a result, you may not be protected against severe COVID-19 even if you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines. This includes:

• People who have cancer and are on chemotherapy.
• People who have had a solid organ transplant and are taking medication to keep their transplant.
• People who use some medicines for a long time, such as corticosteroids.
• People with primary immunodeficiency diseases.

It is generally recommended that immunocompromised people stick with the same brand of COVID-19 vaccine when possible, though it is not critical. You can self-attest to your moderately or severely immunocompromised status, which means you do not need to have or show documentation of your status to receive COVID-19 vaccines you might be eligible for.

Learn more about additional doses for moderately or severely immunocompromised people here, and talk with your health care provider about what additional precautions may be necessary, such as the COVID-19 preventive monoclonal antibody treatment Pemgarda.

I have an underlying condition.

Having a condition or risk factor that puts you at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness (possibly resulting in hospitalization) is not the same as being immunocompromised, but similarly you should not delay getting vaccinated. Additionally, if you had a recent COVID-19 infection, there’s no rule against getting the updated vaccine sooner than 90 days afterward, so you may choose not to wait. We recommend discussing it with your health care provider.

Risk factors and underlying conditions that could lead to severe COVID-19 illness include:

• Adults ages 65+ (More than 81% of COVID-19 deaths occur in people over age 65.)
• Some people are at increased risk because of where they live or work, or because they can’t get health care. This includes many people from racial and ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities.
• Cancer with chemotherapy treatment or other immunocompromising condition/weakened immune system (see answer above)
• Stroke
• Diabetes (type 1 or 2)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic lung disease
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Dementia or other neurological conditions
• Heart conditions (heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, and possibly high blood pressure)
• Blood disorders such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia
• HIV/AIDS
• Overweight and obesity
• Mental health conditions
• Pregnancy
• Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant recipients
• Substance use disorders
• Tuberculosis

Unless you are also immunocompromised, having an underlying condition or risk factor does not make you eligible for additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about the medical conditions and risk factors that may put people at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness here.

I have always received the Moderna vaccine in the past and would like to get it again, but my local pharmacy offers only the Pfizer vaccine.

Get whatever COVID-19 vaccine is available. There are rare medical reasons why people may want to choose one brand over another or stay brand loyal, but for the vast majority of people there is no meaningful difference between the vaccines. The most important thing is to get vaccinated with one of them.

If you are concerned about vaccine brand for medical reasons, we recommend discussing it with your health care provider or pharmacist.

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