What's New

Are there new COVID-19 vaccines this year?

Yes, the updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine will help restore immunity and protect against newer variants.

The 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in protecting against severe illness due to COVID-19 and can reduce the chance of getting Long COVID. More information is available on CDC's COVID-19 vaccine website.

Use VDH’s Vaccine Locator to find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.

How can I prevent respiratory viruses?

In March, CDC released new respiratory virus guidance for illnessess, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV in non-health care settings. The guidance includes core prevention strategies:

Staying up to date with vaccination for flu, COVID-19, and RSV, if eligible.
Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces regularly.
Taking steps for cleaner air at home and elsewhere.
When people get sick with a respiratory virus, the guidance recommends that they stay home and away from others until when for at least 24 hours both are true:
Their symptoms are improving overall AND
They have not had a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medication(s).
For people with COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available, effective in helping to prevent more severe disease, and must be started promptly after diagnosis

Visit VDH’s Precautions When Sick webpage for more information.

Are COVID-19 vaccines still free?

For people with Medicare: COVID-19 vaccinations are covered under Medicare Part B without cost sharing, and this will continue.

For people with Medicaid: Medicaid will continue to cover all COVID-19 vaccinations without a co-pay or cost sharing through at least September 30, 2024, in certain healthcare settings.

For people with private health insurance or employer-sponsored health insurance: Most people will continue to pay nothing out-of-pocket for COVID-19 vaccines. People MUST go to a pharmacy or medical provider that is “in-network” with their insurance in order to receive the vaccine at no cost. People are advised to check ahead of time with the vaccine provider they intend to go to, or they can ask their insurance company about what vaccine providers are in network.

For uninsured children: They will be able to receive COVID-19 vaccines through the existing Vaccines for Children Program. This initiative provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of their inability to pay.

For uninsured adults: Virginia’s Vaccines for Adults (VFA) program will provide free COVID-19 vaccines for uninsured and underinsured adults at VFA provider locations.