Updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendation

Everyone ages 6 months and older should get the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine. This includes people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine before and people who have had COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from severe disease, hospitalization, and death. It is especially important to get your 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine protection decreases over time, so it is important to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine.

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About the vaccines

Are COVID-19 vaccines safe?

Yes. The COVID-19 vaccines have gone through the same rigorous review that all vaccines must follow in the U.S. In New York, the State’s independent COVID-19 Clinical Advisory Task Force also approved these COVID-19 vaccines as safe and effective. While the vaccine is in use, the FDA and the CDC are constantly monitoring for new side effects.

Do the vaccines work?

Yes. All of the vaccines currently available in the US protect people against severe disease, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19, based both on clinical trials and real-world experience and observation. No vaccines are 100% effective, so some fully vaccinated individuals will still get sick. However, data collected on these "breakthrough cases" suggest that symptoms are milder for these individuals. The vaccines can also reduce the spread of COVID-19, protecting others.

• CDC: Vaccine Effectiveness

Could a vaccine infect me with COVID-19?

No. None of the vaccines authorized or under review for use in the U.S. are made with the live virus that causes a COVID-19 infection or would make you sick.

About Getting vaccinated

 
Will getting vaccinated prevent me from getting sick with COVID-19?

No. There is still a chance of getting the disease. However, you risk of severe disease, hospitalization, or death is much lower when you are up to date with your vaccinations.

 
Will the vaccine cause a positive test on future COVID-19 viral tests?

No. Authorized vaccines will not cause a positive on any of the tests used to detect a current infection.

 
Can I infect others even after I’m vaccinated?

Yes. If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19 you should take precautions around others until you are certain that you're not infected (about 5 days after exposure). If you are sick with COVID-19 you should isolate from others even if you are up-to-date with your vaccination.

 
Should I get the vaccine if I already had a coronavirus infection?

Yes. The science shows that the vaccine provides better and longer-lasting protection than the defenses your body builds up when you were infected.

 
Can I get a flu shot at the same time I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. There is no required interval of time between receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and any other vaccine, such as the flu shot (you may want to consider getting one in each arm rather than both in the same arm). The Health Department recommends that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu shot every year. Most local pharmacies provide flu vaccines, or contact your primary care provider. Find more info about seasonal influenza here.