On Sept. 11, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use. The updated COVID-19 vaccines are formulated to target currently circulating variants and to provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. 

On Sept. 12, 2023, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against COVID-19 illness.

As part of FDA’s actions, the bivalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States. This includes military hospitals and clinics in overseas areas.

On Oct. 3, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization of the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted for use in individuals 12 years of age and older to include the 2023-2024 formula.

Individuals 12 years of age and older previously vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine and who have not already been vaccinated with a recently updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to receive one dose. Unvaccinated individuals receive two doses.

The CDC recommends the 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.

• Everyone ages 5 years and older should get one dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
• Children aged 6 months to 4 years need multiple doses to be up-to-date, including at least on does of an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses.

Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. Vaccination also reduces your chance of suffering the effects of Long COVID, which can develop during or following acute infection and last for an extended duration.  If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 2 months, get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself this fall and winter.

To date, hundreds of millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.

Check with your military hospital, clinic or health care provider for availability and appointments to receive your updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine.

Recommendations by Age Group:

Everyone Ages 5 Years and Older

Everyone ages 5 years and older should get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. None of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines is preferred over another.

Children aged 5-11 Who are not Vaccinated or Have Gotten Previous COVID-19 Vaccines

Children aged 5 years – 11 years who are unvaccinated or have previously gotten a COVID-19 vaccine before Sept. 12, 2023, should get 1 updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

People Aged 12 Years and Older Who are Unvaccinated Should Get Either:

• 1 updated Pfizer-BioNTech or updated Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, OR
• 2 doses of updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.

People Aged 12 and Older Who Got Previous COVID-19 Vaccines

People aged 12 years and older who got COVID-19 vaccines before Sept. 12, 2023, should get 1 updated Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.

Pregnancy remains a risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease.

COVID-19 vaccination improves outcomes for pregnant women and their infants.

Hybrid immunity from prior infection and vaccination likely provides better protection than either infection or vaccination alone.

Protection wanes over time after both infection and vaccination.

Vaccination is the first tool in your toolbox for respiratory virus season.

Additional tools to protect yourself:

• wash hands with soap and water
• stay home if you are feeling sick
• avoid close contact with sick people
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• spend time in well-ventilated areas

Practice good health habits, such as cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, and taking care of your health.

• Receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine can provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States. 
• Hospitalization rates are highest in older adults and infants <6 months
• Most children <5 years hospitalized with COVID-19 illness have no underlying medical conditions.
• A higher proportion of hospitalized children and adolescents 5-17 years have underlying medical conditions.
• Most children and adults hospitalized for COVID-19 since January 2023 had not received an updated bivalent booster.
• Most hospitalized adults have multiple underlying medical conditions.
• This is the first fall and winter virus season where vaccines are available for the three viruses responsible for most hospitalizations – COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and flu
• In addition to safe, updated COVID-19 vaccines, at-home tests for the virus can identify infection so you can protect your family, coworkers, and the general public.

“Everyone aged 5 years and older should get one dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19. None of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines is preferred over another.”

“Vaccination is the first tool in your toolbox for respiratory virus season. Get your updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 and Influenza vaccine and if you are age 60 or older consult your health care provider for RSV vaccine recommendations.”

“Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. Get the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine.”

“This is the first fall and winter virus season where vaccines are available for the three viruses responsible for most hospitalizations – COVID-19, RSV, and flu. Get vaccinated!

“Hundreds of millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. Get your vaccine today to protect yourself this fall and winter.”

Depending on your test results, take proper action.

• If you have a positive test result:
  • The test detected the virus and you're likely to have a current infection.
  • Follow public health guidelines for isolation and treatment, and inform close contacts. (Centers for Disease Control Quarantine and Isolation Guidance).
• If you have a negative test result:
  • The test didn’t detect the virus, but this doesn’t rule out infection.
  • Repeat the test within a few days, leaving at least 24 hours in between tests, to make sure you aren’t infected.
• If you have an indeterminate result or a test error:
  • The test didn't work properly.
  • If this happens, check the instructions for use in the package insert and contact the manufacturer for help.

You should report your positive at-home test results to your health care provider, who will record the test result in your electronic health record. Your health care team will help you with questions about potential and current COVID-19 symptoms, what self-care you can provide at home, and when to seek health care if symptoms worsen.

If you usually get care at a military hospital or clinic, you may report your positive results by:

• Contacting your health care team through secure messaging, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the TRICARE Online Patient Portal (TOLPP) or the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal. This is the preferred reporting method for your positive test results. Your health care team will respond to you with any medical instructions within 24 hours.
• Contacting your health care team directly via a phone call during duty hours.
• Calling your military hospital or clinic appointment line and asking to speak with your team nurse. The appointment line will leave a phone consult with your team nurse, who will call you back within 24-72 hours.
• Scheduling a virtual appointment with your primary care manager using the TOLPP or MHS GENESIS Patient Portal. Many civilian providers offer virtual telehealth appointments, too.
• Contacting your military hospital or clinic hotline or information line. Telephone numbers are available on the facility’s homepage and social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

If you usually get care in the TRICARE civilian health care network, please contact your primary care provider or your TRICARE Regional Contractor (Humana, HealthNet or International SOS). Your provider may give you instructions over the phone or schedule you for a virtual health care visit, if available.