Madison Clarke
As of 2025, the COVID-19 pandemic has been ongoing for six years, with subvariants of the Omicron strain continuing to drive infections. While vaccines have been updated annually since 2022, misinformation and anti-vaccine rhetoric have led to hesitancy and declining vaccination rates. The CDC recommends a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults aged 18 and older, with parents of children aged 6 months to 17 years advised to discuss the benefits with healthcare providers. The 2024-2025 vaccines target the currently circulating strains, including the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant, and are expected to provide good protection. However, the FDA has issued warnings about rare cases of heart inflammation associated with mRNA vaccines such as Moderna and Pfizer. As the pandemic evolves, staying informed about vaccine updates and recommendations is crucial for making informed decisions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recommendation | CDC recommends the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults aged 18 and older |
| Protection | The vaccine helps protect from severe illness, hospitalization, and death |
| Importance | It is especially important for individuals above 65, those at high risk, and those who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine |
| Technology | The vaccine uses mRNA technology, which sends instructions to host cells in the body to make copies of a spike protein |
| Development | The speed of development was unprecedented, with scientists designing a vaccine within hours of the genetic sequence being posted online |
| Investment | The U.S. invested in mRNA technology, which laid the groundwork for the rapid COVID-19 vaccine response |
| Platform | mRNA is a platform that can be adapted quickly for new or mutating viruses, combined to target multiple variants, and manufactured through a streamlined process |
| Testing | The 2024-2025 vaccines were approved based on preclinical studies of their efficacy against circulating strains |
| Updates | The vaccines are updated annually to provide the best protection against currently circulating strains |
| Strains | The 2024-2025 vaccines target the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant |
| FDA Warnings | The FDA added a warning regarding rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly after the second dose of an mRNA vaccine |
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What You'll Learn
The 2024-2025 vaccine update
The COVID-19 pandemic has now been ongoing for six years, with new variants and subvariants of the virus continuing to emerge and drive infections worldwide. In response, vaccine manufacturers have been updating their formulas annually since 2022 to provide the best protection against the currently circulating strains.
The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines have been updated to more closely target the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant, which is the dominant strain causing infections. These updated vaccines were approved based on pre-clinical studies of their efficacy against circulating strains and are expected to provide good protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults aged 18 years and older, including those who have previously received a COVID-19 vaccine or had COVID-19. Getting the updated vaccine is especially important for individuals aged 65 and older, those at high risk for severe COVID-19, and those who have never been vaccinated.
For parents of children aged 6 months to 17 years, the CDC advises discussing the benefits of vaccination with a healthcare provider. While the 2024-2025 vaccine is not officially recommended for this age group, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released guidance recommending the vaccine for children aged 6 months to 2 years and older children whose parents want them vaccinated.
As of summer 2025, the U.S. is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, and there is a dominant coronavirus strain, nicknamed "Stratus," circulating in the country. The updated 2024-2025 vaccines are expected to provide protection against this strain and its predecessors. However, it is important to note that vaccine protection decreases over time, and new updates are continually being made to combat emerging variants.
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mRNA technology
The "m" in mRNA stands for messenger, meaning mRNA carries instructions for our bodies to make proteins. Scientists figured out how to harness this natural process by making mRNA in a lab. They take a snippet of the genetic code that carries instructions for making the protein they want the vaccine to target. Injecting that snippet instructs the body to become its own mini-vaccine factory, making enough copies of the protein for the immune system to recognize and react.
MRNA vaccines were evaluated in large, rigorous trials, meeting the same safety and effectiveness standards as other vaccines. By the end of 2021, they had saved an estimated 20 million lives globally, including more than one million in the United States. They reduced hospitalization and death rates, lowered the risk of long Covid, and helped economies and communities reopen sooner.
The success of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines led to increased investment in mRNA technology, with scientists now exploring its potential in developing vaccines and treatments for other diseases, including cancer and cystic fibrosis. However, there is some controversy surrounding the technology, with some US health agencies casting doubt on its effectiveness and safety, leading to funding cuts and canceled contracts for mRNA vaccine development.
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Vaccines for children
Vaccines are an important way to protect children from serious infectious diseases. If your child is unvaccinated, they are at risk of infection and its associated complications, which can sometimes be fatal.
In the UK, the NHS offers a range of vaccines for children, including the six-in-one vaccine (also known as DTaP/IPV/Hib/Hep B), which protects babies from six serious illnesses: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, Hib, and hepatitis B. The MMR vaccine is also routinely given to children and protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Since its introduction in 1988, the MMR vaccine has significantly reduced the number of cases of these diseases. Other vaccines offered to children in the UK include the rotavirus vaccine, the flu vaccine for those in clinical risk groups, and the COVID-19 vaccine for infants and children aged six months and over with weakened immune systems.
While vaccines are generally safe and effective, they can sometimes cause mild side effects. For example, the MMR vaccine may cause a mild fever, loss of appetite, and a rash about a week to 10 days after vaccination. In rare cases, it can also cause a mild form of mumps, and even more rarely, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The HPV vaccine, offered to children aged 12-13 years, may cause soreness, swelling, and redness in the arm.
It is important to note that the reporting of suspected adverse reactions to vaccines does not confirm that the vaccine caused the reaction. The Yellow Card scheme in the UK allows anyone to voluntarily report suspected adverse reactions or side effects, and these reports are continuously reviewed to detect possible new side effects. While there have been reports of rare blood clotting events following the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in adults, the benefits of vaccination in protecting against COVID-19 still outweigh the potential risks.
If you are unsure about your child's vaccination status or have concerns about vaccine safety, it is recommended to speak to your GP, health visitor, or school nurse. They can provide specific information and advice regarding your child's vaccination needs.
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Vaccines for pregnant people
It is strongly recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect both you and your baby.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that pregnant women are more at risk of severe COVID-19 disease. The chance of infection can change very rapidly and is expected to increase over the winter. The COVID-19 booster will reduce the chance of you becoming severely unwell from COVID-19. It may take a few days for your body to build up extra protection from the booster.
COVID-19 vaccines do not contain live coronavirus and cannot infect a pregnant woman or her unborn baby in the womb. There is no known risk associated with giving inactivated virus or bacterial vaccines or toxoids during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The data for each licensed COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy is limited because pregnant women are not included in vaccine trials. This is not because of any specific safety concerns but as a matter of caution, similar to that applied to trials of most other medicines.
Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are the preferred vaccines for pregnant women of any age who are coming in for their first dose. This is because over 100,000 pregnant women in the USA have been vaccinated with these vaccines, and no safety concerns have been identified. If a different COVID-19 vaccine is given to a pregnant woman, she should be reassured that the vaccine does not contain live coronavirus and therefore cannot cause a COVID-19 infection in her or her baby.
There is no need to avoid pregnancy after COVID-19 vaccination. There is also no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines have any effect on fertility or your chances of becoming pregnant.
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Vaccine eligibility
The CDC recommends the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults aged 18 and older. This includes individuals who have previously received a COVID-19 vaccine, those who have had COVID-19, and those with long COVID. It is especially important for individuals aged 65 and older or those at high risk of severe COVID-19 to get the updated vaccine. Additionally, parents of children aged 6 months to 17 years should consult a healthcare provider to discuss the benefits of vaccination for their children.
For individuals who have recently had COVID-19, it is recommended to wait for 3 months after the onset of symptoms or receiving a positive test result before getting the 2024-2025 vaccine. This is because the risk of reinfection is lower in the weeks to months following a SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, certain factors may warrant getting the vaccine sooner, such as being pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or planning a future pregnancy.
The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines are designed to provide improved protection against the currently circulating strains, specifically targeting the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant. While vaccine protection decreases over time, the updated vaccines offer the best defence against the most prevalent strains.
It is important to note that vaccine access and eligibility may vary based on location and the decisions of local health authorities. For instance, government officials in certain areas may restrict vaccine access to older adults (aged 65 and above) and individuals with specific pre-existing health conditions who are considered high-risk. Pregnant individuals and some children may be excluded from vaccine eligibility in these areas, despite evidence of vaccine safety and effectiveness for these populations. Furthermore, individuals can stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots by visiting vaccines.gov to find their nearest vaccine provider. The recent changes in committee members and policies may also impact COVID vaccine access.
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Frequently asked questions
The coronavirus vaccine is a vaccine designed to protect against COVID-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The coronavirus vaccine helps protect you from severe illness, hospitalisation, and death. It is especially important for those who are older, at high risk, or have never been vaccinated.
The coronavirus vaccine uses mRNA technology to send instructions to host cells in the body to create copies of a spike protein. Our cells recognise that this protein is foreign, activating the immune system to produce antibodies. This will prompt the body to recognise and attack the real SARS-CoV-2 spike protein if exposed to the virus.
The coronavirus vaccine is updated annually to provide the best protection against currently circulating strains. The CDC recommends that most adults aged 18 and older receive the updated vaccine every year.
You can schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment through official websites such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), or your local government websites.
