COVID boosters

COVID-19 Omicron Booster Shots Administered Along With Other Vaccines At Chicago Senior Center

The new COVID shot is now available. Here's what you need to know

5:00am August 22, 2024

Two of the updated COVID-19 vaccines have arrived at pharmacies all over the country. On Friday, the FDA authorized the Novavax shot, which is also expected to be available in the coming days.

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Coronavirus FAQ: How long does my post-COVID protection last? When is it booster time?

7:27pm January 28, 2024

by Max Barnhart

How long does immunity last after an infection? Are rapid tests always accurate? How often is a booster in order? In this installment of our FAQ series, we look into questions about "COVID time."

A street painting in Mumbai, India, reinforces the importance of masks amid a surge of COVID. The photo was taken on January 11.

Coronavirus FAQ: Are we in a surge? How do you cope if your whole family catches it?

7:41am January 13, 2024

by Max Barnhart

Are we in a surge? How would we know? Is winter now "COVID season?" And what do you do if your whole family got the coronavirus over the holidays? We tackle readers' coronavirus questions.

Health & Safety

Top COVID FAQs of 2023: Staying safe at home, flying tips, shot combos, new variant

5:30pm December 21, 2023

by Marc Silver

How do I stay safe now that the public health emergency is over? We answer questions on boosters, risks when flying — and the new JN.1 variant.

There's high demand for this fall's COVID shots, which offer protection against circulating variants of omicron. But there's been some distribution hiccups.

Health & Safety

This year's COVID vaccine rollout is off to a bumpy start, despite high demand

1:27pm September 27, 2023

Some people are finding pharmacies still don't have supply of the shots, and others are having insurance coverage troubles. Here's what's going on.

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Experts say the new COVID boosters are a much closer match to currently circulating variants than prior vaccines and boosters.

The new COVID boosters are coming: Here's what you need to know

8:52pm September 13, 2023

Updated versions of the mRNA vaccines roll out this week. Experts say they offer good protection against current COVID variants. Who should get them, and when's the best time to roll up your sleeve?

Another round of COVID-19 vaccines is on the way. The Food and Drug Administration approved vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna that target an omicron subvariant called XBB.1.5. Vaccination campaigns, like this one in San Rafael, Calif., in 2022, could resume soon.

Health & Safety

New COVID vaccines get FDA approval

4:39pm September 11, 2023

by Rob Stein

Vaccines for a fall immunization drive against COVID-19 just got the green light from the Food and Drug Administration. The agency says the vaccines can protect people, as hospitalizations tick up.

Shana Alesi administers a COVID-19 booster vaccine to Marine Corps veteran Bill Fatz at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Ill., in 2021. A new round of boosters could become available for some people this spring.

Health & Safety

The FDA may soon authorize a spring round of COVID-19 boosters for some people

1:22pm March 29, 2023

by Rob Stein

The Food and Drug Administration appears poised to make available the COVID-19 vaccines that target omicron as a second booster for people with weak immune systems and those ages 65 and older.

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The new COVID boosters rolling out this month represent a shift in strategy, said White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha during a press briefing. The goal now will likely be to roll out new boosters annually.

The new COVID booster could be the last you'll need for a year, federal officials say

9:05pm September 06, 2022

The COVID-19 vaccine strategy may be shifting toward Americans getting yearly vaccinations, like many do with annual flu shots.

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Gearing up for fall, health officials are recommending a new round of booster shots.

Omicron boosters: Do I need one, and if so, when?

2:54pm September 05, 2022

by Allison Aubrey

Updated COVID boosters are now available for anyone age 12 or older. The CDC is urging anyone who is eligible to sign up but some vaccine experts say some people might want to wait.

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