Yes, there is a new COVID vaccine for the 2025-2026 season. The FDA has directed manufacturers to update their formulas to target the JN.1 lineage of the virus, preferentially using a strain called LP.8.1, which more closely matches the variants currently circulating in the United States. The updated shots are recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older.
What the 2025-2026 Vaccine Targets
COVID vaccines are now updated annually, similar to the flu shot. The 2025-2026 formula is a monovalent vaccine, meaning it targets a single viral lineage. An FDA advisory committee unanimously recommended the JN.1-lineage composition, and the FDA specified a preference for the LP.8.1 strain within that lineage. This replaces the previous season’s formula, which targeted the KP.2 variant.
The goal of each annual update is to keep the vaccine matched to whatever versions of the virus are spreading most widely. Because SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, last year’s shot loses relevance over time, both because immunity fades and because the virus drifts away from the older vaccine’s target.
Which Vaccines Are Available
Four vaccine products are approved for the 2025-2026 season, and which ones you can get depends on your age:
- Children 6 months to 4 years: Only Moderna’s Spikevax is approved.
- Children 5 to 11 years: Moderna (Spikevax) and Pfizer-BioNTech are both options.
- Ages 12 and older: Moderna (Spikevax), Moderna’s newer mNexspike product, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Novavax are all approved.
Novavax uses a protein-based approach rather than mRNA technology. It works by delivering a lab-made version of the spike protein directly, instead of instructing your cells to produce it. Over 3,200 public comments submitted to the CDC’s advisory committee supported keeping this option available, largely because some people find it more tolerable or prefer a non-mRNA alternative. For those 12 and older who haven’t been vaccinated before, Novavax is given as a single dose.
How Well the Previous Update Worked
Effectiveness data from the 2024-2025 season gives a reasonable picture of what to expect. Among adults 65 and older with healthy immune systems, the vaccine reduced COVID-related hospitalizations by 45% to 46% during the first four months after vaccination. For older adults with weakened immune systems, protection against hospitalization was about 40% over that same period.
These numbers are lower than what many people remember from the original vaccine rollout, but they reflect a very different situation. Most people now have some baseline immunity from prior infections, prior vaccinations, or both. The updated vaccine adds a meaningful boost on top of that existing protection, particularly against severe illness. It’s less about preventing every infection and more about keeping people out of the hospital.
Side Effects and Safety
Common side effects remain similar to previous versions: sore arm, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches that typically resolve within a day or two. Serious side effects are rare.
The FDA has required updated warning labels on mRNA COVID vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) regarding myocarditis and pericarditis, which are inflammation of the heart muscle and its surrounding lining. Based on insurance claims data from the 2023-2024 formula, the estimated rate was roughly 8 cases per million doses among people ages 6 months through 64. The risk is highest in young males ages 12 to 24, at about 27 cases per million doses. Most cases are mild and resolve with rest and anti-inflammatory treatment. This risk profile has remained consistent across recent vaccine updates.
Getting Both Flu and COVID Shots
You can get your flu vaccine and COVID vaccine at the same visit. Clinical trials of a combined flu-COVID mRNA vaccine from Moderna showed immune responses that were as good as, or better than, getting each shot separately. The combination triggered a stronger immune response against both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 compared to the individual vaccines. However, people who received the combo shot reported more frequent and slightly more severe non-serious reactions like soreness and fatigue. That combined product is still in development, so for now, co-administration means two separate injections in the same appointment.
Cost and Access
Most people with health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, can get the updated COVID vaccine at no out-of-pocket cost. For uninsured children, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program covers the cost. Uninsured adults may face higher barriers now that earlier federal programs providing free vaccines have ended. Retail pharmacy prices for the private sector vary by manufacturer, so if you’re paying out of pocket, it’s worth calling ahead to compare costs at local pharmacies and community health centers.