Madison Clarke
The COVID-19 vaccine has been updated over time to protect against new variants of the virus. The original vaccines, introduced in December 2020, protected against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. Since then, vaccine manufacturers have updated their formulas to target different iterations of the Omicron strain, including the BA.4, BA.5, and XBB lineages. The 2024-2025 vaccines were designed to protect against the KP.2 strain, while the 2025-2026 vaccines will target the JN.1 lineage, a descendant of the Omicron variant. While COVID vaccines do not prevent infection 100% of the time, they are safe and effective at preventing severe disease, complications, and death. They also lower the risk of long COVID.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness against new variants | The 2024-2025 vaccines were expected to work well against new predominant strains and other variants. The 2025-2026 vaccines target the JN.1 lineage of COVID-19, a descendant of the Omicron variant. |
| Protection against severe illness | COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe disease, complications, and death. They also lower the risk of long COVID. |
| Side effects | Most side effects are mild and short-lived. |
| Eligibility | The 2025-2026 vaccines are approved for those 65 and older or younger individuals with underlying conditions. |
| Dose | Only one shot of the 2024-2025 vaccine is needed for most people. |
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What You'll Learn
Effectiveness against new variants
While COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent infection 100% of the time, they are the best way to protect yourself. The vaccines protect against severe disease, complications, and death, and they also lower the risk of long COVID. The data shows that COVID-19 shots are safe and effective, and they have been widely available in the United States.
The FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for 2024-2025 to better protect against currently circulating variants. These updated vaccines are expected to provide protection against COVID-19 caused by the currently circulating variants. The updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines include Comirnaty and Spikevax, which are approved for individuals 12 years of age and older. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine are authorized for emergency use for individuals 6 months through 11 years of age. Unvaccinated individuals in this age group are eligible to receive three doses of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or two doses of the updated Moderna vaccine.
The 2024-2025 vaccines are expected to work well against new predominant strains and other variants that are expected to become more common. The updated vaccines will target the JN.1 lineage of COVID-19, using the LP.8.1 strain, which is a descendant of the Omicron variant. As the XFG or "stratus" variant is a descendant of the Omicron variant and is closely related to the LP.8.1 strain, the newly updated COVID-19 vaccines should offer protection against this dominant variant.
The previous 2022 "bivalent" vaccines targeted the original virus and Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. In 2023, a monovalent shot targeted the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant. The 2024-2025 vaccines are updated to better protect against variants that are currently spreading. The vaccines created by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna both target the KP.2 strain, part of the larger FLiRT family of variants that spread throughout the spring and summer of 2024. The Novavax vaccine targets the JN.1 variant, which spread earlier in the season. All three vaccines are closely related to the variants currently circulating.
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Protection against severe disease
Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 and its variants. While they do not prevent infection 100% of the time, they are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalisation, and death. The COVID-19 vaccines have been updated over time to target new virus variants. The original COVID mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, introduced in December 2020, protected against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. These have been replaced multiple times with shots targeting different iterations of the Omicron strain. In 2022, bivalent vaccines targeted the original virus and Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. In 2023, a monovalent shot targeted the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant.
The 2024-2025 vaccines were expected to work well against new predominant strains and other variants. The 2024-2025 formula has been updated with a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain. The updated mRNA vaccines are expected to provide protection against COVID-19 caused by currently circulating variants. The 2024-2025 vaccine is a one-shot vaccine for most people, and there is no booster. However, immunocompromised individuals or those aged 6 months to 4 years may need more than one dose.
The 2025-2026 vaccines will target the JN.1 lineage of COVID-19, using the LP.8.1 strain, a descendant of the Omicron variant. As the XFG or "stratus" variant, the dominant strain in the US, is closely related to the LP.8.1 strain, the new vaccines should offer protection against this variant and will be effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalisation, and death.
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Reducing long COVID risk
While COVID vaccines do not prevent infection 100% of the time, they are still the best way to protect yourself from severe disease, complications, and death. Research has shown that people who are infected after vaccination are less likely to experience long COVID, compared to those who were not vaccinated.
Get Vaccinated and Boosted
Vaccines have been shown to reduce the rates of long COVID. Massive population studies have demonstrated that getting vaccinated lowers the dose of the disease and, consequently, the chances of developing long COVID.
Wear a Mask
Wearing an appropriate mask (P2 or N95) can reduce the risk of infection and lower the dose of the virus if you are in a poorly ventilated or crowded area.
Take Metformin (for at-risk patients)
A randomised controlled clinical trial found a 41% reduction in long COVID incidence in people who took a titrated dose of metformin for two weeks, starting within seven days of symptom onset. While not currently recommended under any guidelines, it may be worth trying for appropriate at-risk patients, especially those with chronic lung disorders.
Take Vitamin D Supplements
Observational studies have shown an inverse relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and the incidence or severity of COVID-19. While the data is not definitive, taking vitamin D supplements may help protect against infection and reduce the risk of long COVID.
Reduce the Number of Times You Get COVID
The more times you get infected, the higher your chances of developing long COVID. Therefore, it is important to reduce your risk of infection by following public health guidelines, maintaining good indoor air quality, and wearing masks in crowded areas.
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Preventing hospitalisation
While COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent infection 100% of the time, they are the best way to protect yourself from severe disease, complications, and death. They also lower the risk of long COVID, a debilitating and costly condition. The 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines are updated to better protect against variants that are currently spreading. These vaccines are designed to target newer variants of the virus and provide better protection against severe consequences, including hospitalisation and death.
The 2024–2025 vaccines are expected to work well against new predominant strains and other variants that are expected to become more common. The vaccines created by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna target the KP.2 strain, part of the larger FLiRT family of variants that spread throughout the spring and summer of 2024. The vaccine made by Novavax targets the JN.1 variant, which spread earlier in the pandemic. All three vaccines are closely related to the variants currently circulating.
The updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines include Comirnaty and Spikevax, approved for individuals 12 years and older, and the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, authorised for emergency use for individuals 6 months through 11 years of age. Unvaccinated individuals in this age group are eligible to receive either three doses of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or two doses of the updated Moderna vaccine.
The FDA has approved the updated 2025 COVID-19 vaccines, with limitations. However, there may be barriers to accessing the vaccines, such as the need for a prescription and the cost of the vaccine, which is $150. The ACIP is set to meet to discuss vaccine approvals, and their outcome will impact whether insurance companies will cover the shots.
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Lowering death risk
COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect yourself against the virus. While they do not prevent infection 100% of the time, they are highly effective at preventing severe disease, complications, and death. The vaccines also lower the risk of long COVID, a debilitating condition that can be costly to treat.
The 2024-2025 vaccines were expected to work well against new predominant strains and other variants. The updated vaccines target the JN.1 lineage of COVID-19, which is a descendant of the Omicron variant. They are designed to protect against the XFG, or "stratus" variant, which is currently the dominant strain in the United States. The World Health Organization affirms that these updated vaccines will be effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
The FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for 2025-2026, with limitations. These vaccines will target the latest variants of the virus. The updated vaccines include Comirnaty and Spikevax, which are approved for individuals 12 years and older, and the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, authorized for emergency use for individuals 6 months through 11 years old.
It is important to note that the availability of the vaccines may depend on age, health, and location. Additionally, certain groups, such as those who are immunocompromised or younger children, may require more than one dose of the vaccine.
Vaccination is a critical tool in reducing the chances of virus replication and, consequently, the opportunities for mutation. While there may be barriers to accessing the vaccines, such as prescription requirements and cost, it is crucial to prioritize vaccination to protect against severe illness and lower the risk of death from COVID-19.
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Frequently asked questions
The J&J vaccine has been updated over time to target new virus variants. The 2024-25 vaccine is updated to better protect against variants that are currently spreading. The Novavax vaccine, for example, targets the JN.1 variant.
The J&J vaccine is expected to provide protection against COVID-19 caused by currently circulating variants. The vaccines are closely related to the variants currently circulating.
Individuals who receive the updated J&J vaccine may experience similar side effects as those reported by individuals who received the previous version of the vaccine. Most side effects are mild and short-lived.
