Q&A on the 2025-2026 COVID-19 Vaccines

As has been the case each year since 2022, updated COVID-19 vaccines were released leading into the fall season, and the shots should be broadly available to people age 6 months and up. For the first time, however, the vaccines are not approved for all age groups, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends them only after a discussion with a healthcare provider.

Experts emphasize that there has been no real change in the benefits or risks of the vaccines, which are pretty safe and offer additional protection against the coronavirus. Vaccination can benefit everyone but is particularly important for those at higher risk of severe illness, including older people, very young children, pregnant people and those with certain other risk factors.

In the end, the CDC recommendation means that most people who want a vaccine — even if they do not meet the approval criteria — can get one, although doing so may be more difficult. 

Here, we explain what’s different this year and walk through the complexities of getting vaccinated under the new rules.

• What happened this year that’s different from the past?
• What do experts say about who should get the vaccines? 
• What shots are available this year? 
• Who is eligible to get a vaccine this year?
• Are some people eligible for additional doses?
• Are the shots still free, and where can I get one?
• Will there be new barriers to getting these vaccines?