CDC recommends second dose of COVID-19 vaccine for certain populations

CDC now recommends a second dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for two groups:

  • People 65 years and older and
  • Everyone 6 months and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised

The second dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine is recommended six months after the first dose. These groups remain at higher risk of severe COVID-19, and these updated recommendations help maximize their protection year-round. Data continue to confirm the importance of vaccination to protect those most at risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19. Also, data on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness indicate that protection against COVID-19-associated emergency department and urgent care visits and hospitalization likely wanes by four to six months after vaccination. Fortunately, protection from admission to the intensive care unit, a sign of critical illness, lasts longer.

Additionally, data show that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continues to circulate year-round, with peaks typically occurring in the winter and late summer.

CDC previously recommended that people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, in consultation with a healthcare provider. Historically in years past, uptake of these additional doses for this group was low. ACIP voted to provide a clear recommendation for people who are six months or older and are moderately or severely immunocompromised to receive a second dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after their first dose.

These updated recommendations also allow for flexibility for additional doses (i.e., three or more) for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, in consultation with their healthcare provider (a strategy known as shared clinical decision making). These additional doses can be timed around immunosuppressive treatments, such as chemotherapy, after which some people may be at increased risk of severe COVID-19. These doses can also be timed around activities like travel or other life events, during which people may have increased risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.

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