COVID-19 Booster Shots in 2025: Who Still Needs One and Why
COVID-19 Vaccines in 2025: Do You Need a Booster Shot?
Abra-ca-dab-ra… Has it disappeared?
Would love to watch Covid-19 just disappear from human life, but that isn’t possible?
Get this clear and straight – in 2025 COVID-19 hasn’t disappeared, it’s evolved.
New variants, seasonal surges, and waning immunity have kept the virus part of daily healthcare conversations. But what about boosters? If you got your primary COVID-19 vaccine or a booster in the past, do you still need one now?
As new CDC recommendations come out and pharmaceutical companies adapt vaccines to new strains, many people are asking whether they’re due or overdue for another dose.
Let’s discuss this further in this blog.
Latest Guidance on Boosters in 2025
As of early 2025, the CDC recommends an updated COVID-19 vaccine booster for specific groups:
- Adults aged 65 and older
- People with weakened immune systems
- Individuals who haven’t received a booster or updated vaccine in the last 12 months
- Those at high risk due to underlying medical conditions or frequent exposure (e.g., healthcare workers)
These guidelines reflect data showing that immunity from previous doses may fade after 6–12 months, especially in older adults or immunocompromised people.
For Complete CDC Guidelines
Why Are Boosters Still Needed?
Boosters are designed to help the human body recognize newer variants of the virus. The SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to mutate. Just like the cold & flu, new variants emerge that may partially escape immunity from older vaccines.
Booster shots strengthen immune memory and prevent severe illness and hospitalization that can be caused by the virus. A Booster is not just a repetition of past doses. It includes variant-specific formulations to target dominant strains like the JN.1 or future subvariants expected to spread during the fall and winter. So, if you haven’t got your booster shot then go ahead and check with your PCP for a convenient time to get one.
Who Might Not Need a Booster Right Now?
- People under 50 with no underlying health conditions
- Individuals who received an updated vaccine within the past 6 months
- Children and teens (depending on updated local health guidance)
Even for low-risk groups, staying informed matters. The CDC may expand recommendations as new data emerges, especially heading into colder months.
How to Know If You’re Eligible
You don’t need to guess. Most health providers and local urgent care centers offer COVID-19 booster eligibility screenings before administration. At Life Saver Urgent Care, we offer booster eligibility screenings. You can fix an appointment with us to get yourself screened. When you are preparing for your screening test just ensure be prepared with the following
- Date of your last COVID-19 vaccine
- Any immunocompromised status
- Occupation or exposure risk
- Medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
Just like any other vaccines you may face some aftermath which can be a Sore arm, mild fatigue and a headache or low-grade fever. These typically resolve within 24–48 hours. Serious reactions remain extremely rare, and updated boosters continue to show strong safety profiles.
Where to Get a Booster in 2025
COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are still widely available across pharmacies, clinics, and urgent care centers. While some locations may require appointments, many also accept walk-ins, especially during public health campaigns or seasonal surges.
Boosters remain free or low-cost for most people under insurance or federal coverage programs.
Check with your Primary Care Physician or check with doctors in your nearby Urgent Care.
The need for COVID-19 boosters in 2025 depends on your health, age, and risk factors. Staying up to date doesn’t just protect you, it helps protect those around you, especially the vulnerable.