The Updated COVID Vaccines Are Here: 9 Things to Know

[Originally published: Oct. 2, 2023. Updated: April 19, 2024.] Note: Information in this article was accurate at the time of original publication. Because information about COVID-19 changes rapidly, we encourage you to visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and your state and local government for the latest information. There has been better protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 since newly updated (2023–2024 formula) mRNA COVID vaccines became available last fall. Shots are available to protect everyone 6 months and older from serious illness, hospitalization, and death from the disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the updated vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for everyone 6 months and older, and authorized an updated Novavax vaccine for those 12 and older in the fall of 2023. In February of this ye...