COVID-19 vaccines

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine protects against serious illness, the need for hospital care due to COVID-19 and death from COVID-19. Staying up to date with the latest vaccine is most important for people at higher risk. That includes adults over age 65, those with weakened immune systems, people who are pregnant, and people with chronic conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease or obesity.

Serious side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine are extremely rare. Because of that, even healthy adults benefit from the COVID-19 vaccine, which lowers the risk of serious illness at a rate similar to that of the flu vaccine.

The 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States include Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Novavax. The vaccines are all approved for people age 65 and older. Each vaccine also is approved for younger people with a health condition that raises the risk of serious COVID-19 illness.

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine 2025-2026 formulas:

• Spikevax. This vaccine is approved for all people age 65 and older and for people ages 6 months to 64 years with a risk of serious COVID-19 illness.
• Mnexspike. This vaccine is approved for all people age 65 and older and for people ages 12 to 64 years with a risk of serious COVID-19 illness.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 2025-2026 formula:

• Comirnaty. This vaccine is approved for all people age 65 and older and for people ages 5 to 64 years with a risk of serious COVID-19 illness.

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine 2025-2026 formula:

• Nuvaxovid. This vaccine is approved for all people age 65 and older and for people ages 12 to 64 years with a risk of serious COVID-19 illness.

Most people are up to date after one dose of the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine from any vaccine maker. Children ages 6 months to 23 months are up to date after two doses of Spikevax, spaced at least four weeks apart.