--- title: Getting a Flu and COVID Vaccine Before Fall description: Sort out what applies to you, book smart, and handle the appointment itself. category: life tags: [vaccines, flu-shot, covid-19, health] version: "1.0" updated: 2026-08-05 sources: - name: CDC / HHS via AAMC url: https://www.aamc.org/news/your-fall-2025-vaccine-guide - name: BuzzRx COVID-19 Guidelines & Vaccine Updates for 2025 url: https://www.buzzrx.com/blog/updated-covid-vaccine - name: Weence: CDC's 2025–2026 COVID-19 Vaccine Update url: https://weence.com/health/cdcs-2025-2026-covid-19-vaccine-update-who-should-get-it-and-what-it-means-for-you/ - name: Pharmacy Times: ACIP Meeting on COVID-19 Vaccines url: https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/acip-meeting-covid-19-vaccines-to-be-administered-through-shared-clinical-decision-making - name: KFF: Tracking State Actions on Vaccine Policy and Access url: https://www.kff.org/state-health-policy-data/tracking-state-actions-on-vaccine-policy-and-access/ - name: KFF: Recent Changes in Federal Vaccine Recommendations url: https://www.kff.org/other-health/recent-changes-in-federal-vaccine-recommendations-whats-the-impact-on-insurance-coverage/ - name: healthinsurance.org: Can you get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, and will your insurance cover it? url: https://www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/can-you-get-the-updated-covid-19-vaccine-and-will-your-health-insurance-cover-the-cost/ - name: Brown & Brown: COVID-19 Vaccines in 2025: New Regulatory Guidelines url: https://us.bbrown.com/blog/covid-19-vaccines-in-2025-new-regulatory-guidelines - name: Solv Health: 2025 COVID Vaccine Guidelines url: https://www.solvhealth.com/health/covid-vaccine-guidelines --- Flu and COVID shots both work best when you get them a few weeks before viruses start spreading, but the rules for who "should" get a COVID vaccine changed in 2025 — it's no longer a blanket recommendation the way flu shots are. This checklist walks you through figuring out what applies to you, booking smart, and handling the actual appointment. ## Figure out what applies to you - [ ] Check that flu vaccination is still recommended for you `{essential}` It remains a broad annual recommendation for people 6 months and older; almost everyone qualifies. - [ ] Understand COVID vaccines now work differently `{essential}` ACIP has voted to recommend COVID-19 vaccines be administered based on individual-based decision-making, also known as shared clinical decision-making, for adults 65 years and older, rather than a universal recommendation, and anyone at least six months of age can get the updated COVID vaccine, but the recommendation calls for shared clinical decision-making with a doctor, pharmacist, or other medical professional to determine whether a person should get the shot. - [ ] Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your personal risk `{essential}` The people at increased risk of severe illness include older adults age 65 and above, those with underlying medical conditions or a weakened immune system, and those who have never been vaccinated against COVID-19 before. This conversation is now the actual mechanism for deciding whether you get a COVID shot, not just a formality. - [ ] Talk it through with your OB-GYN `{when: if-pregnant}` In May 2025, Secretary Kennedy announced that COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy children and healthy pregnant women, and the CDC's vaccine schedules were updated accordingly, though most providers continue to offer the vaccine during pregnancy, and you can speak with your OB-GYN about the benefits and risks. - [ ] Check the age-specific guidance before assuming your child needs it `{when: if-you-have-a-child}` The AAP recommends a risk-based strategy for kids ages 2 to 18, prioritizing vaccines based on a child's individual risk for more severe disease, such as conditions like asthma or diabetes, though the AAP is also advising that healthy children in this age group should still be able to get the vaccine if parents want to protect them. - [ ] Mention any past allergic reaction to a vaccine or vaccine ingredient before you book A real gotcha only if you've had a serious reaction before; otherwise not a barrier for most people. ## Book the appointment - [ ] Aim for late September to early October This timing lines up with when both vaccines become available and gives protection time to kick in before peak season, without it fading before winter. - [ ] Ask whether you can get flu and COVID shots at the same visit This has long been considered safe practice, and doing both in one trip saves you a second appointment. - [ ] Ask specifically about a high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccine `{when: if-65-or-older}` Older adults are prioritized for these stronger formulations because standard-dose flu shots protect them less reliably. - [ ] Check whether your state or pharmacy requires a prescription for the COVID shot `{when: varies-by-state-and-pharmacy}` A proposal for prescription requirements for COVID-19 vaccines was rejected, as it would have added an unnecessary layer of complexity for people seeking the vaccine, but where governors or health departments have issued statewide standing orders, pharmacists can administer COVID-19 vaccines without individual prescriptions and insurers have a clear basis to cover those claims — in states without such orders, pharmacies may continue requiring prescriptions and insurers may restrict or deny coverage. - [ ] Confirm your insurance will cover both shots at no cost before you go `{when: if-cost-is-a-concern}` `{essential}` AHIP, the trade association for the health insurance industry whose members cover more than 200 million Americans, announced that health plans will continue to cover all ACIP-recommended immunizations that were recommended as of September 1, 2025 with no cost-sharing for patients through the end of 2026, and a recommendation for shared clinical decision making meets this definition and is required to be covered without cost-sharing. - [ ] Bring your insurance card and photo ID to the appointment ## At the appointment - [ ] Tell the provider about any current illness, fever, or recent vaccine reactions This can change timing or which product they use. - [ ] Ask for the shots in different arms if you're getting both Makes it easier to tell which arm is sore from which shot afterward. - [ ] Get a copy of your vaccination record or receipt `{essential}` You'll need proof for work, school, or future travel requirements, and it's much easier to grab it on the spot than to track down later. - [ ] Wait in the office for about 15 minutes after the shot `{essential}` This is standard practice so staff can help if you have a rare allergic reaction. ## After the appointment - [ ] Watch for normal side effects like a sore arm, mild fever, or fatigue for a day or two Expected and not a reason to worry. - [ ] Get emergency care immediately for signs of a severe allergic reaction `{essential}` Difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or hives spreading fast — anaphylaxis is rare but requires immediate treatment. - [ ] Save your vaccination record somewhere you can find it For next year's flu shot, school forms, or a future COVID booster. - [ ] Ask whether you need an additional dose `{when: if-immunocompromised-or-young-child}` Adults 65 and older, residents of long-term care facilities, and people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may need additional doses. - [ ] Note the date so you know when you're due for next year's shots Both vaccines are reformulated annually and protection fades over the year, so this isn't a one-and-done.