The general recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots in 2025 is as follows:
- Adults 75 years and older should get a COVID-19 booster every 6 months.
- Adults aged 65 to 74 years, and adults 18 to 64 years with severe immunocompromise, are recommended to get a booster every 12 months but can consider a dose every 6 months based on benefit-risk assessment.
- All other adults aged 18 to 64 are eligible for a booster every 12 months.
- Children and adolescents 5 to under 18 years with severe immunocompromise are eligible for a booster every 12 months.
- Boosters are not currently recommended for most children under 5 years without severe immunocompromise.
These recommendations are aimed at maintaining protection against severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, and death, especially for higher-risk groups.
Vaccination timing may also be optimized based on local COVID-19 transmission patterns to improve protection. Updated COVID-19 boosters targeting recent variants are available and recommended for eligible groups.
