Anyone aged 6 months and older is eligible for the 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC recommends it based on “individual-based decision-making,” which means you and your healthcare provider weigh the benefits and risks for your specific situation rather than following a blanket recommendation for everyone equally.
What “Individual-Based Decision-Making” Means
This language is a shift from earlier in the pandemic, when the CDC broadly recommended COVID vaccines for virtually everyone. Now, the guidance acknowledges that the benefit of vaccination varies depending on your personal risk. If you’re at higher risk for severe COVID-19, the risk-benefit balance tips more clearly in favor of getting vaccinated. If you’re younger and healthy with no major risk factors, the benefit is smaller, though you’re still eligible.
In practical terms, no one aged 6 months or older is excluded from getting the shot based on age or health status alone. You don’t need a prescription or a doctor’s referral. The “individual decision-making” framing simply means the CDC isn’t issuing a universal “everyone should get this” recommendation the way it does for, say, childhood measles vaccines.
Who Benefits Most
The CDC specifically notes that the risk-benefit of vaccination is most favorable for people at increased risk of severe COVID-19. That includes:
- Adults 65 and older. This group receives the strongest recommendation. Older adults remain far more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19 than younger people.
- People with chronic health conditions. Heart disease, diabetes, obesity, chronic lung disease, kidney disease, and liver disease all raise the risk of severe outcomes.
- Immunocompromised individuals. People on immunosuppressive medications, organ transplant recipients, and those with conditions that weaken the immune system face the highest risk and may need additional doses beyond what the general population receives.
- Pregnant people. Pregnancy increases the risk of severe COVID-19, and vaccination during pregnancy has additional protective benefits for the baby.
For people aged 6 months through 64 with no risk factors, the CDC says the benefit is lowest, but vaccination is still an option if you and your provider decide it makes sense.
Children and Infants
Children as young as 6 months old are eligible. Younger children, particularly those under 5, typically need more than one dose to build adequate protection because their immune systems are still developing. The exact number of doses depends on the child’s age and vaccination history. Children 5 and older generally follow the same single-dose schedule as adults. Your pediatrician can confirm how many doses your child needs based on what they’ve already received.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals are fully eligible and encouraged to consider vaccination. More than a million pregnant women worldwide have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, and studies have found no increased risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery, stillbirth, or birth defects.
Vaccination during pregnancy does more than protect the mother. It builds antibodies that cross the placenta and can help shield the baby during the first months of life, before the infant is old enough to be vaccinated. Most babies hospitalized with COVID-19 were born to mothers who were not vaccinated during pregnancy. You can receive the vaccine at any point during pregnancy.
For breastfeeding mothers, studies show no safety concerns for the mother or baby after vaccination. Antibodies from the vaccine have been detected in breast milk, which may offer some passive protection to nursing infants.
Who Should Not Get the Vaccine
Very few people are medically ineligible. The main contraindication is a history of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the same type of COVID-19 vaccine or to one of its ingredients. If you had anaphylaxis after an mRNA vaccine, for example, you may still be able to receive a different vaccine type, such as a protein-based option. Your provider can help determine which formulation is safe for you.
Infants younger than 6 months are not eligible, as the vaccines have not been authorized for that age group.
Timing After Infection or a Previous Dose
If you recently had COVID-19, you don’t need to rush to get vaccinated. Many providers suggest waiting about three months after an infection before getting your next dose, since your body already has fresh immunity from fighting the virus. This isn’t a hard rule, though. You’re still eligible to get the vaccine sooner if you prefer, particularly if you’re in a high-risk group.
If you received a previous COVID-19 vaccine dose, you should wait at least two months before getting the updated version. Your provider can help you figure out the right timing based on when you were last vaccinated or infected.
Where to Get It
The updated COVID-19 vaccine is available at pharmacies, doctor’s offices, community health centers, and local health departments. Most insurance plans cover the cost. For uninsured individuals, options vary by state, but many pharmacies and health centers still offer vaccines at no cost through federal or state programs. You can search for nearby locations through vaccines.gov or by calling your local pharmacy directly.