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COVID-19 booster shots

We provide COVID-19 vaccines to eligible Veterans and family members at no cost. We follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on COVID-19 booster shots. Read this page for the latest updates.

Why staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines is important

Vaccines and boosters continue to protect against new forms of the coronavirus (like Omicron). Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to protect yourself and your family. 

Here’s what we know from the Omicron surge:

  • People who were vaccinated were much less likely to get very sick or die compared to people who weren’t vaccinated.
  • People who had a booster shot had even better protection.

The updated (bivalent) boosters protect against both the original virus strain and the Omicron variant. An updated booster will protect you even more against COVID-19.

Note: It’s safe to get both your flu vaccine and your COVID-19 booster at the same appointment.

Getting a booster shot

The CDC recommends that most people who are at least 6 months old get an updated (bivalent) booster shot. 

When to get your updated booster shot

We offer updated COVID-19 vaccine booster shots at no cost. If you’re an eligible Veteran or eligible family member, you can get an updated booster if all of these are true for you:

  • You haven’t already had an updated bivalent booster (first offered in September 2022), and
  • You’re at least 12 years old, and
  • You completed your primary vaccine series, and
  • You got your last dose of the original COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months ago

Not sure if you’re eligible? Find out who can get a COVID-19 vaccine at VA

Note: In limited cases, people ages 18 and older can get an original (monovalent) Novavax booster. You can get it 6 months after your primary vaccine series if you haven’t gotten any boosters yet. Novavax is not updated to protect against the Omicron variant.

How to get a booster shot at VA

If you’re a Veteran who receives care through VA

If you’re eligible to get a booster shot, contact your local VA health facility to find out how you can get your shot. Your facility may offer you a booster by appointment or in a walk-in vaccine clinic.

What to know:

  • Confirm that the facility has the vaccine you want before you come in. Not all VA health facilities have all types of vaccines right now. And facilities may offer different vaccines at different times. If you have questions about which vaccine to get, talk to your health care team.
  • Check the facility’s website for walk-in hours before you go. Not all facilities offer walk-in hours. When you arrive, you may need to wait for the staff to prepare your vaccine.
  • Bring your COVID-19 vaccine record card with you.
  • Get your flu vaccine at the same time. It’s safe to get both your flu vaccine and your COVID-19 booster at the same appointment. Only Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care can get flu shots at VA health facilities. Call before you come in to make sure the facility has both vaccines.

Find VA health facilities near you that offer COVID-19 vaccines

If you don’t receive care through VA or if you received your primary vaccine series outside of VA

If you’re eligible to get a booster shot, contact your local VA health facility to find out how you can get your shot. 

What to know:

  • Confirm that the facility has the vaccine you want before you come in. Not all VA health facilities have all types of vaccines right now. And facilities may offer different vaccines at different times. If you have questions about which vaccine to get, talk to your health care team.
  • Check the facility’s website for walk-in hours before you go. Not all facilities offer walk-in hours. When you arrive, you may need to wait for the staff to prepare your vaccine.
  • Bring your COVID-19 vaccine record card with you.
  • Get your flu vaccine at the same time. It’s safe to get both your flu vaccine and your COVID-19 booster at the same appointment. Only Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care can get flu shots at VA health facilities. Call before you come in to make sure the facility has both vaccines.

Find VA health facilities near you that offer COVID-19 vaccines

How to get a booster shot in the community

If you’re eligible to get a booster shot, contact your primary health care provider or a location that provides free COVID-19 vaccines in your community. 

Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you at vaccines.gov

If you receive care through VA and you get your booster shot outside of VA, we encourage you to share this information with your VA health care team.

Find out how to get your VA COVID-19 vaccine records online

About getting another booster

The updated (bivalent) boosters protect against both the original virus strain and the Omicron variant. An updated booster will protect you even more against COVID-19.

It’s safe to get several vaccines in a year. And it’s safe to get both your flu vaccine and your COVID-19 booster at the same appointment.

Vaccines have pieces of germs or viruses, killed germs, or weakened germs in them. The goal of a vaccine is to teach your immune system to make antibodies to fight off the real virus if you are exposed to it. In the natural state, your body is exposed to thousands of germs. Your body then makes antibodies in response.

Vaccines are a safer way for your body to learn to make antibodies to some of the more dangerous viruses, like COVID-19. But vaccines use the same natural process of your immune system, which is already activated often by germs and viruses. 

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