Most people ages 12 and older need one dose of the current COVID-19 vaccine per year, with at least 8 weeks between their last dose and the new one. Adults 65 and older and people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may qualify for a second annual dose. The timing depends on your age, immune status, and whether you’ve recently had COVID-19.
Timing for Most Adults and Teens
If you’ve received any previous COVID-19 vaccine, you’re eligible for one dose of the 2025-2026 updated vaccine. The minimum waiting period is at least 8 weeks after your last dose for the Pfizer or standard Moderna formulations, or at least 3 months for the newer Moderna mNexspike version. If you haven’t been vaccinated before, the schedule involves a primary series rather than a single dose.
There’s no strict “best month” the way flu shots cluster around October, but getting vaccinated before fall and winter respiratory season gives you the strongest protection heading into the months when COVID hospitalizations typically spike. Protection against severe illness holds up well for the first six months, with effectiveness dropping roughly 10 percentage points over that window. Even with that decline, most vaccinated people maintain over 70% protection against severe disease over time.
If You Recently Had COVID-19
You can still get vaccinated after an infection, but the CDC suggests waiting about 3 months. A recent infection provides some short-term immune boost on its own, so spacing out the shot lets you get more benefit from the dose. You should also wait until you’re no longer contagious to avoid exposing staff and other patients at the vaccination site.
Adults 65 and Older
If you’re 65 or older, you’re recommended to receive a second dose of the seasonal COVID vaccine, spaced six months after your first. This extra dose reflects the reality that older immune systems don’t respond as robustly to a single shot, and protection fades faster in this age group. You don’t need a special prescription or referral. Simply schedule the second dose about six months out from your first.
Immunocompromised Individuals
People with moderate or severe immunocompromise follow the same two-dose recommendation as seniors, with the second dose coming six months after the first. But the guidelines go further for this group: additional doses beyond two are possible through shared decision-making with a healthcare provider. Conditions that qualify as moderate to severe immunocompromise include organ transplant, active cancer treatment, advanced HIV, and use of medications that significantly suppress the immune system.
The flexibility here is intentional. Someone on high-dose immunosuppressive therapy after a transplant may benefit from a third annual dose in a way that someone with a milder immune condition would not. Your provider can help weigh the tradeoff based on your specific medications and lab results.
During Pregnancy
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended at any point during pregnancy. The mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) trigger antibody production that crosses the placenta and helps protect the baby after birth. Infants younger than 6 months can’t be vaccinated themselves, so maternal antibodies are their primary shield against COVID-related hospitalization. There is no restricted trimester. If you’re due for a dose and you’re pregnant, you can go ahead and get it.
What the Current Vaccines Target
The 2025-2026 vaccines are built around the Omicron JN.1 lineage, which is the evolutionary branch that has dominated recent waves. Pfizer and Moderna target a specific descendant called LP.8.1, while Novavax targets the broader JN.1 strain. All three are designed to provide better-matched protection than older formulations against the variants currently circulating.
Getting It With Your Flu Shot
You can receive the COVID vaccine and the flu shot at the same visit, one in each arm. A randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Network Open compared simultaneous and sequential administration and found that getting both at once did not create safety concerns beyond what each vaccine produces individually. The most common reactions, including sore arms, fatigue, muscle aches, and mild fever, are the same whether you get the shots together or apart. Getting both done in one visit saves a trip and makes it more likely you’ll actually complete both.
What Side Effects to Expect
The most frequently reported side effects are soreness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, and chills. These typically show up within 12 to 24 hours and resolve within one to three days. Side effects tend to be milder with booster doses than with the original primary series, though individual experiences vary. Planning your shot for a day when you can take it easy the following morning is a practical move, especially if previous doses hit you hard.