COVID-19 Vaccines

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season. The updated vaccine targets currently circulating variants of the COVID virus. As with previous versions, this updated vaccine provides protection against serious illness and hospitalization and lasts for about 6 months, which is similar to the flu vaccine.

The new vaccine also:

• Reduces your risk of developing long COVID symptoms by about 35%
• Shortens your time with active illness if you do have a breakthrough infection

COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect you and your loved ones from the virus. If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 2 months, you may want to get the updated vaccine. Learn about the updated COVID-19 vaccines and who should get them on the CDC's website.

If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised, you may benefit from additional doses of the vaccine. Learn more about how you can stay up to date with your COVID vaccine.

Getting the vaccine

Our COVID-19 vaccine clinics are closed for the season. If you need a COVID-19 vaccine, please contact your primary care provider's office, or visit your local pharmacy.

Vaccine effectiveness

The CDC has performed many studies to measure how effective the COVID-19 vaccine is for protecting people from infection and severe illness. Learn more about how the CDC monitors vaccine effectiveness.

Vaccine safety

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing serious illness from COVID-19. Read about COVID-19 vaccine safety on the CDC’s website.

Special populations

The CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

The CDC provides recommendations for special groups of people, including:

• Children and teens with disabilities
• People who are planning to get pregnant
• People who are pregnant or breastfeeding

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine for specific groups of people.

Cancer Center and immunocompromised patients

We strongly encourage patients with cancer or who have a weakened immune system to reduce their risk of exposure to the virus, get vaccinated, and urge those they come into contact with to get vaccinated too. Review vaccine information for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines

We encourage you to review the following websites for additional information about COVID-19 vaccines:

Federal and state websites

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Vaccines for COVID-19
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA): COVID-19 Vaccines
• Massachusetts COVID-19 vaccination data and updates
• New Hampshire: COVID-19 Vaccine
• Vermont Department of Health: COVID-19 Vaccine

Vaccine fact sheets

• Moderna vaccine fact sheet and information for recipients and health care professionals
• Novavax vaccine fact sheet and information for recipients and health care professionals (PDF)
• Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine fact sheet and information for recipients and health care professionals