Learn More: What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines for Older Adults (Age 65+)

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The best protection against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. 

Adults age 65 years and older should receive the 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax) to protect against serious illness due to COVID-19. 

Adults age 65 years and older who received a dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine should receive an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose.

 

FDA Approvals (as of March 2024)

Three COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax, have developed 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines. These updated COVID-19 vaccines protect us against the variant strain called XBB.1.5.  The FDA has provided an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for all three updated vaccines.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccination will protect you and others against the virus

COVID-19 is the disease caused by a highly infectious virus called SARS-CoV-2. Sometimes cases of COVID-19 can be mild, but others can be more severe and even deadly. This is especially true for older adults or people with chronic health conditions. One in 100 older Americans have died from COVID-19 disease. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends receiving the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. Getting the vaccine has many benefits:

  •  It will lower your risk of getting sick if you are exposed to the coronavirus.
    • Even if you are up to date with the vaccine, it is still possible to get COVID-19. However, data from real-world use of COVID-19 vaccines shows that vaccination substantially lowers the risk of becoming seriously ill if you do get infected.
  • It helps protect the people you are around, especially people with a higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19. This includes older people and people with chronic, underlying conditions.

People who are immunocompromised or take medicine that affects the immune system are at higher risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19. It is especially important for immunocompromised people to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Last Updated March 2024

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