Should You Get Another Covid Shot Now?

The virus is spreading, but new vaccines coming this fall could offer better protection. We asked experts about the right time for a booster.

By Dani Blum
Aug. 12, 2024, 5:02 a.m. ET

If you’re trying to get the most protection against the leading variants:

Doctors say that many people may want to wait for the updated vaccines, which have been retooled to better protect against the current dominant strains of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone ages 6 months or older receive an updated shot when they become available.

An upcoming vaccine from the biotechnology company Novavax will target JN.1, a coronavirus variant that accounted for the bulk of cases in the United States this winter. The Pfizer and Moderna shots coming this fall will target KP.2, a newer offshoot of JN.1 that’s been circulating this summer. The variants responsible for the largest share of cases in the United States right now, KP.3 and KP.3.1.1, are closely related to KP.2 and JN.1.

The vaccines that are currently available, by contrast, target older Omicron variants that fizzled out as JN.1 took hold this past winter.

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If you are at higher risk for severe disease:

A C.D.C. spokesperson said that certain groups of people at higher risk for severe disease might benefit from getting a shot this summer, before the updated vaccines are available. That includes those who are 65 or older, are pregnant, are immunocompromised or have certain underlying medical conditions, or who live in long-term care facilities.

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