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When to get seasonal COVID vaccines


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Interestingly, as with all things in medicine, there may not be a right answer to this question.


One intriguing study showed this was very location specific and felt due to many factors such as the relative humidity in a region, etc:


Jeffrey P Townsend, Hayley B Hassler, Alex Dornburg, Optimal Annual COVID-19 Vaccine Boosting Dates Following Previous Booster Vaccination or Breakthrough Infection, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 80, Issue 2, 15 February 2025, Pages 316-322


In general, the best timing is before the fall–winter respiratory virus season, with the most recent updated COVID-19 vaccine given at least 2 months after the last COVID-19 dose; adults ≥65 years and those with moderate/severe immunocompromise may receive additional doses, also spaced ≥2 months apart.[1-4]


Key points:


• Rationale: Protection against medically attended illness and hospitalization is highest in the first 1–2 months after vaccination and wanes thereafter; aligning vaccination ahead of peak transmission maximizes benefit.[2][4-7]


• Populations: CDC/ACIP recommend updated vaccination annually for all persons ≥6 months of age; schedules are consistent across ages, and coadministration with other routine vaccines is acceptable and encouraged when due (American Academy of Family Physicians summary of ACIP schedules; American Academy of Pediatrics for pediatric populations).[3][8]


• Immunocompromised and ≥65 years: Additional 2023–2024 doses (≥2 months apart) are recommended or may be considered to sustain protection against hospitalization.[1][4]


• For recent SARS‑CoV‑2 infection, defer until recovery and consider timing within these intervals; specific intervals after infection may vary and are not well studied.[2][4]



These recommendations are supported by observational VE data showing substantial short-term protection of updated formulations against ED/UC encounters and hospitalization, with measurable waning over time.[1-2][4-7]

 

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3.      ACIP Approves 2023 Child/­Adolescent and Adult Immunization Schedules. American Academy of Family Physicians. Practice Guideline

 

 

4.      Estimated 2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness in Adults. Link-Gelles R, Rowley EAK, Irving SA, et al. JAMA Network Open. 2025;8(6):e2517402. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.17402.

 

 

 

7.      Early Estimates of Bivalent mRNA Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Among Immunocompetent Adults Aged ≥65 Years - IVY Network, 18 States, September 8-November 30, 2022. Surie D, DeCuir J, Zhu Y, et al. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2022;71(5152):1625-1630. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm715152e2.

 

8.      COVID-19 Vaccines in Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2022;150(3):e2022058700. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-058700.

 
 
 

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