COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations: What You Need to Know
Updates for 2023-2024
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine for the best protection against serious illness.
The updated vaccine is a bivalent vaccine, meaning it protects against both the original strain of the virus and the Omicron subvariants.
The CDC does not expect the interval between doses to change for the 2023-2024 season.
What to Expect When Getting a Vaccine
When you get a COVID-19 vaccine, you can expect the following:
- A brief medical screening to make sure you are healthy enough to receive the vaccine
- The injection of the vaccine into your upper arm
- A short observation period to make sure you do not have any immediate reactions
Most people experience no side effects from the vaccine, but some common side effects include:
- Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
- Fatigue
- Headache
Vaccine Effectiveness
The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.
The updated 2023-2024 vaccine is even more effective than the original vaccine, and it is expected to provide good protection against the Omicron subvariants.
However, no vaccine is 100% effective, so it is possible to still get COVID-19 even if you are vaccinated.
If you do get COVID-19 after being vaccinated, you are likely to have a milder case and be less likely to be hospitalized or die.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and they are the best way to protect yourself from serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.
The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccines, please visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html
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