Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Are Available for 2024-2025
Yes, new COVID-19 vaccine versions are available—the 2024-2025 formulations were FDA-approved and authorized in August 2024, targeting currently circulating Omicron JN.1 lineage strains (KP.2 and JN.1), and are recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months. 1
Current Vaccine Formulations
The most recent COVID-19 vaccines represent a significant update from previous versions:
Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech 2024-2025 vaccines are based on the Omicron KP.2 strain, FDA-approved for persons aged ≥12 years and authorized under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for children aged 6 months–11 years as of August 22,2024 1
Novavax 2024-2025 vaccine is based on the Omicron JN.1 strain, authorized under EUA for persons aged ≥12 years as of August 30,2024 1
These formulations replaced the 2023-2024 monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccines, which themselves had replaced the bivalent BA.4/BA.5 formulations from 2022 1, 2
Why New Versions Were Developed
The evolution of vaccine formulations directly responds to viral evolution and waning immunity:
SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, with Omicron JN.1 lineage strains (including JN.1 and KP.2) widely circulating in the United States since winter 2023-2024 1
Previous vaccine effectiveness wanes over time—the 2023-2024 vaccine showed VE of 49% against hospitalization at 7-59 days post-vaccination, declining to only 14% at 120-179 days 1
The XBB-sublineage strains targeted by 2023-2024 vaccines are no longer predominant, necessitating updated formulations 1
Universal Recommendation
ACIP recommends 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months, regardless of prior vaccination history. 1
This represents a shift from earlier targeted approaches:
The recommendation applies universally across all age groups ≥6 months 1
Vaccination should occur regardless of previous COVID-19 vaccination history or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection 1
The interval is at least 2 months after the last COVID-19 vaccine dose 1
Vaccine Effectiveness Data
The most recent evidence demonstrates meaningful but moderate protection:
VE against symptomatic infection was 58% for XBB-sublineage and 37% for JN.1-sublineage at 60-119 days post-vaccination among adults 1
VE against COVID-19-associated hospitalization was 49% at 7-59 days, declining to 14% at 120-179 days among immunocompetent adults 1
VE against critical illness appears more durable at 69% at 7-59 days and 32% at 120-179 days 1
Pooled VE data showed 43% protection against medically attended COVID-19,44% against hospitalization, and 23% against death, though certainty of evidence was low 1
Special Population Considerations
For immunocompromised individuals:
Persons aged ≥6 months who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive 2 or 3 doses of the same brand of updated COVID-19 vaccine 1
Updated vaccines should be administered at least 2 weeks before initiation or resumption of immunosuppressive therapies 1
For HCT recipients, vaccination is recommended 6 months post-transplant, with consideration for early vaccination at 3 months during community outbreaks 1
Timing Considerations
Persons who recently had SARS-CoV-2 infection may consider delaying vaccination by 3 months from symptom onset or positive test result 1, 3
The minimum interval between any prior COVID-19 vaccine dose and the 2024-2025 vaccine is 2 months 1
Safety Profile
Recent safety surveillance has identified two statistical signals requiring ongoing monitoring:
Guillain-Barré syndrome among persons aged ≥65 years—this association had not been identified with previous formulations, and evidence remains inconclusive 1
Ischemic stroke among adults aged ≥50 years—cumulative data have not provided clear evidence of a safety problem, with follow-up studies ongoing 1
These potential risks must be weighed against the established benefits of preventing COVID-19 hospitalization and death 1
Common adverse events remain consistent with previous formulations: injection site reactions (60.8%) and systemic reactions (54.8%), with <1% requiring medical care 4