What's New
Yes, the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine will help protect against newer variants, like the Omicron KP.2 variant. This variant is expected to be one of the most common during this upcoming respiratory season.
Getting a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine will offer protection or restore protection from a previous vaccination. The 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines will start to be available around late August to mid-September.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in protecting against severe illness due to COVID-19. It can also reduce the chance of getting Long COVID.
More information is available on CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine website.
In March, CDC released new respiratory virus guidance for illnesses , 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.
Most Americans will continue to pay nothing out-of-pocket for the COVID-19 vaccine.
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 children and adults who are uninsured or underinsured, the federal government has programs in place that will provide the new COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to the patient.
- Uninsured children will be able to receive COVID-19 vaccines through the existing Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. This initiative provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of their inability to pay.
- Uninsured and underinsured adults will have access to free COVID-19 vaccines through the Virginia Vaccines for Adults (VVFA) program which is funded by the CDC's Bridge Access Program until August 2024. Vaccines through this program will be available at local health departments (LHDs), federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), free clinics, CVS and Walgreens pharmacies, and some local healthcare providers.