- What is the updated COVID vaccine?
- Who should get the updated COVID vaccine?
- Can I get the vaccine at MIT Health?
- Do I really need to get another COVID vaccine?
What is the updated COVID vaccine?
The updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines target the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant, the most common circulating variant right now.
Who should get the updated COVID vaccine?
The CDC recommends the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older. This includes people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine before and people who have already had COVID-19.
Can I get the vaccine at MIT Health?
If you already have a well visit scheduled at MIT Health’s Campus Care Center, you can get the vaccine at that appointment. If you do not have an appointment scheduled already in Cambridge, you should get the vaccine at a commercial pharmacy, like Walgreens or CVS. If you regularly get your care at MIT Health in Lexington, you can call 617-253-4481 to schedule a vaccine appointment there, or you can go to a commercial pharmacy.
Do I really need to get another COVID vaccine?
According to the CDC, it is important to get the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine because: protection from the COVID-19 vaccine decreases with time, and the newest vaccine has been updated to protect you from the currently circulating strains.
Getting the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine is especially important if you:
- Have never received a COVID-19 vaccine
- Are 65 or older
- Are at high risk for severe COVID-19
- Are living in a long-term care facility
- Are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or might become pregnant in the future
- Want to lower your risk of getting Long COVID.