{"id":85065,"date":"2026-09-08T06:00:57","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T12:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=85065"},"modified":"2026-09-09T15:05:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T21:05:44","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect yourself from COVID-19 and flu this fall and winter. Everything you need to know about updated 2026-27 vaccines."},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><figure id=\"attachment_85067\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-85067\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-85067\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/21161156\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.webp\" alt=\"Getting your updated 2026-2027 COVID-19 and flu vaccines soon can help protect you from serious illness this fall and winter. Photo: Getty Images.\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-85067\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Getting your updated 2026-2027 COVID-19 and flu vaccines soon can help protect you from serious illness this fall and winter. Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The new 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines will fight the newest COVID-19 variants.<\/p>\n<p>And there\u2019s a new type of flu shot that could be even more effective than traditional vaccines in fighting the flu.<\/p>\n<p>Medical experts strongly recommend COVID-19 and flu shots for nearly all children and adults ages 6 months and older.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll of the medical experts \u2014 including infectious diseases doctors, pediatricians, family doctors and obstetricians \u2014 encourage everyone over age six months to get a COVID-19 vaccine,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/provider\/michelle-barron-md\/\">Dr. Michelle Barron<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Barron is one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/meet-the-top-infectious-disease-expert-in-colorado\/\">of Colorado\u2019s top infectious disease experts<\/a> and is UCHealth\u2019s senior medical director for infection control and prevention.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEspecially if you&#8217;re older or you have comorbidities, or you&#8217;re pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, we recommend that you get the COVID-19 vaccine because you&#8217;re at high risk for complications.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe new vaccine protects people against the new strain that is currently circulating,\u201d said Barron, who is also a\u00a0<a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/som.cuanschutz.edu\/Profiles\/Faculty\/Profile\/8603\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">professor of medicine and infectious diseases<\/a>\u00a0at the\u00a0<a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/medschool.cuanschutz.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Barron said doctors strongly encourage patients to get vaccines because they are safe and effective and have been proven to reduce severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths from respiratory viruses. (Learn about a study that found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/new-study-covid-19-vaccine-effectiveness\/\">COVID-19 shots cut hospitalizations by more than 50%<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Here\u2019s what\u2019s new for the 2026-27 COVID-19 and flu vaccines:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The COVID-19 vaccine will be arriving at retailers and doctors\u2019 offices soon, and the updated vaccine will fight the <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/covid\/php\/variants\/variants-and-genomic-surveillance.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">newest XFG variants that are circulating now<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>There\u2019s also a new mRNA vaccine to fight flu. Federal officials have <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/vaccines-blood-biologics\/vaccines\/mflusiva\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">approved the new Moderna vaccine<\/a>. It\u2019s called mFlusiva, and it could be up to 25% more effective than typical flu vaccines. This new flu vaccine may be a little hard to find at first. Don\u2019t worry if you can\u2019t find it. Just get a flu shot in the coming weeks to protect yourself before respiratory viruses typically start spreading around Thanksgiving.<\/li>\n<li>Medical experts on the front lines of patient care in the U.S. have come together to strongly recommend vaccines. Leading medical organizations of doctors \u2014 the <a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jama\/fullarticle\/2853781#google_vignette\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Medical Association<\/a>, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aafp.org\/clinical-insights\/immunizations-and-vaccines\/immunizations-schedules-resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Academy of Family Physicians<\/a>, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aap.org\/immunization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a>, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.acog.org\/clinical-information\/maternal-immunization-schedule\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.idsociety.org\/news--publications-new\/articles\/2026\/idsa-recommends-respiratory-vaccines-for-people-with-weakened-immune-systems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Infectious Diseases Society of America <\/a>\u2014 have studied vaccines extensively and launched a new informational website about vaccine safety called <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ama-assn.org\/amaone\/vaccine-recommendations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SpreadTheFacts.org<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Vaccines prevent hospitalizations and deaths and are especially critical for older people and those who are pregnant or immunocompromised.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To answer your top questions about the 2026-27 COVID-19 and flu vaccines, we consulted with Barron.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Do you expect this year to be bad for flu and COVID-19?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s too soon to know if this fall and winter will be especially bad for flu and COVID-19. The flu season in the southern hemisphere was relatively normal this year. And that\u2019s sometimes a good predictor for the flu season in the northern hemisphere. But if a particularly bad variant takes hold, we can suddenly have a very bad flu or COVID-19 season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll it takes is one bad strain that we weren\u2019t expecting, and then \u2018kaboom.\u2019 Things can get bad quickly,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to get vaccines soon for yourself and your family members, Barron said.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Should I get my flu and COVID-19 vaccines this fall?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes. Everyone should try to get their COVID-19 and flu shots this year.<\/p>\n<p>With new, more restrictive guidelines from experts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it may be harder for some people to get vaccines. But Barron is 100% clear on her advice.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Everyone should get a flu shot,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>And she strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccines, especially for people who are at higher risk of getting severely ill if they get COVID-19. These high-risk individuals include older people, immunocompromised people and pregnant women.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cData show that the people who benefit most from a COVID-19 vaccine are those who are older and those who have underlying medical conditions, like asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), hematologic malignancy (cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow and lymph and lymphatic systems) or people who are pregnant or are on medications that suppress your immune system,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>Vaccines also are essential for people like health care workers who are at higher risk for exposure to respiratory illnesses, including flu and COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>They also help everyone avoid severe illnesses, including long COVID.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a good idea to get a COVID shot because you can still get complications, and you can still end up in the hospital. If you get the vaccine, you\u2019ll be decreasing that risk. Does a vaccine mean that you\u2019re never going to get COVID or the flu? No. But it means you\u2019re more likely to stay healthy,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou get to go to work. You get to go to concerts. You get to do all of your fun stuff because you&#8217;re not sick at home in bed,\u201d she said.<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bsh0RfmXcb0?mute=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"What to do if you&#039;re confused about the COVID-19 vaccine | Dr. Michelle Barron | UCHealth\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Who is at the greatest risk of getting severely ill and dying of the flu?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When it comes to flu, Barron said the people who are most at risk and absolutely need flu shots are \u201cthe very old and the very young.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBabies under a year of age and older adults who are 65 and older are much more likely to end up hospitalized or with a complication, including death,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>People who are immunocompromised and those who are caregivers or spend a lot of time with people who are immunocompromised should also be sure to get flu shots.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Should pregnant women get flu and COVID-19 vaccines?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes. Pregnant women should definitely get both flu and COVID-19 vaccines, Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>Her advice has nothing to do with politics. Barron said that doctors and researchers have known for decades that pregnant women are more vulnerable to getting severely ill if they get respiratory illnesses like the flu and COVID-19. Pregnant women can suffer themselves and also can jeopardize the health of their babies if they get severely ill.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust like flu, complications from COVID-19 during pregnancy can lead to early birth, premature birth and complications for the mother,\u201d Barron said. \u201cThere is some anxiety about getting vaccines during pregnancy, and there shouldn\u2019t be.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese vaccines have been very well studied during pregnancy, and there haven\u2019t been any issues,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>While vaccines are safe in pregnancy, getting a bad case of the flu or COVID-19 can be very dangerous and even deadly during pregnancy. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pregnant-and-dying-of-covid-how-ecmo-saved-pregnant-woman-with-covid\/\">Read about a woman who nearly died when she got COVID-19 while she was pregnant<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Advice on kids and COVID-19 vaccines is conflicting. Should children get the 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine? <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px;padding: 0px\">Health experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article\/doi\/10.1542\/peds.2026-079045\/208785\/Recommendations-for-COVID-19-Vaccines-in-Infants?autologincheck=redirected\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">strongly recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for infants and babies ages 6 months to 23 months.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The pediatric experts said infants and babies are at high risk for suffering severe complications if they get sick with COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>Older children who are immunocompromised should also get their COVID-19 vaccines, as should children who are at high risk for severe illness if they get COVID-19, those who live in long-term care facilities, children who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine or kids who live in homes where other family members are at high risk if they get COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>Experts also said any parents who want to protect their children from COVID-19 should get the new 2026-2027 vaccine for their children.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How soon will the new vaccines be available?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Some medical providers and retailers have flu shots in stock now. COVID-19 shots should be arriving in September.<\/p>\n<p>These vaccines are tailored to protect adults and children during the upcoming respiratory virus season.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s because vaccine makers updated the shots to target the newest variants causing COVID-19 illnesses. They also create new versions of flu shots every year to protect people from the flu strains that are most likely to surface this fall and winter.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Is it safe to get multiple vaccines at the same time?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes. You can get your COVID-19 and flu shots at the same time. People who also need pneumonia and RSV vaccines can get them at the same time too, Barron said.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Are there combined shots for the annual fall flu and COVID-19 vaccines?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>No, health officials and vaccine makers have considered creating a combined COVID-19 and flu shot, but that vaccine is still under investigation and isn\u2019t available yet. Barron said that\u2019s not a big deal because it\u2019s safe and easy to get two shots at the same time. If you wish, you can get your COVID-19 shot in one arm and the flu shot in the other.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Should people try to get their vaccines at a particular time to optimize their protection against COVID-19 and flu during the fall and winter respiratory virus season?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>No. Don\u2019t worry about trying for the perfect timing with your vaccines. No one knows exactly when flu and COVID-19 cases will worsen. Some hospitalized patients have both illnesses now. But the illnesses typically increase as we get closer to Thanksgiving. Barron simply encourages people to get the updated 2026-2027 COVID-19 and flu vaccines sometime in the next couple of months.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust do what\u2019s convenient,\u201d Barron said. \u201cIf you\u2019re at the store or pharmacy, and they have vaccines, just get yours. Or if you\u2019re at the doctor\u2019s office, go ahead and get your vaccines.\u201d<br \/>\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZqkBrivVImk?mute=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"Best timing to get the COVID-19 vaccine | Dr. Michelle Barron | UCHealth\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Is COVID-19 still a big deal? Do I still need vaccines to protect me from COVID-19? And do I really need a flu shot?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, COVID-19 is still a big deal. Thousands of people still <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/fastats\/flu.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">die each year from COVID-19<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/fastats\/flu.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">even more people die every year from the flu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFlu and COVID-19 are never going away, and they have the potential to impact you,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why it&#8217;s so critical to get vaccinated and protect yourself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t want to get sick,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Misinformation about vaccines is on the rise, but don\u2019t let that stop you from protecting yourself<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>You\u2019ve probably heard many controversial opinions about vaccines as misinformation rises.<\/p>\n<p>Barron advises her patients to ignore vaccine misinformation as much as possible and focus on the simple goal of protecting themselves and their loved ones.<\/p>\n<p>Barron \u2014 and your own doctor \u2014 want you to stay as healthy as possible now that we\u2019re in the middle of the back-to-school season and will soon be heading into the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.<\/p>\n<p>Vaccines are safe and effective. They work very well in protecting people from severe illness, hospitalization and death, Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019s concerned that many people might skip their annual flu and COVID-19 vaccines this fall because they are confused or worried they will have to pay out of pocket.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EG92jsuJCOs?mute=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"Who should get the new COVID-19 vaccine | Dr. Michelle Barron | UCHealth\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Tell me about the recent decision from FDA officials about COVID-19 vaccines? <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>COVID-19 vaccines used to be approved for everyone in the U.S., ages 6 months and older. Starting last year, federal officials changed those recommendations, saying people ages 65 and older are eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines, along with younger people who have at least one risk factor for getting severely ill if they get sick with COVID-19. Those risk factors include asthma, smoking, physical inactivity and obesity.<\/p>\n<p>But Barron and the leading health experts in the U.S. say those recommendations are not broad enough, are not based on legitimate scientific research and may prevent many people who should get COVID-19 vaccines from getting them.<\/p>\n<p>Medical experts are encouraging as many people in the U.S. as possible to get the 2026-2027 COVID-19 and flu shots because they prevent severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths.<\/p>\n<p>Barron&#8217;s key message amid the uncertainty is to speak with your provider and try to get your vaccines, even if that means getting a prescription. Another alternative is to simply call your provider&#8217;s office and ask for a &#8220;lab appointment&#8221; to get your vaccine. Many doctors&#8217; offices keep supplies of vaccines on hand, and a medical assistant can give you your vaccines at your doctor&#8217;s office.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Will I need a prescription to get a COVID-19 vaccine this year?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>No. If you live in Colorado, state officials have created a standing order that allows anyone ages 6 months and older to get a COVID-19 vaccine without a prescription. If you live in another state, you might need a prescription to get a COVID-19 vaccine at a large national retailer like Walgreens.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Will I need a prescription to get a flu shot?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>No. People will not need prescriptions to get flu shots.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Tell me about the new mRNA flu vaccines. Are they different from traditional flu vaccines?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Federal officials have approved Moderna\u2019s new mRNA vaccine to fight flu.<\/p>\n<p>This vaccine uses the same technology that Moderna and Pfizer used to create vaccines to prevent and fight COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>Barron is excited about the new mRNA flu vaccine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStudies have shown that it was 25% better than the standard flu shot. It hasn\u2019t been tested yet in a head-to-head comparison with the high-dose flu shot that people older than 65 get,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, the new technology is exciting, especially because it\u2019s challenging for vaccine makers to guess exactly which flu variants will be circulating months in the future. And it\u2019s much faster for vaccine makers to create mRNA vaccines than it is to create traditional vaccines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTraditional vaccines for flu are based on eggs. Manufacturers culture the virus on eggs, and they use that to create the vaccine. That\u2019s why it takes a long time. And people who have true egg allergies can\u2019t take traditional vaccines,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is an egg-free vaccines as well, but using mRNA technology could be highly, highly effective.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even so, Barron urges people to get any flu vaccine they can find and not to worry too much about finding the new mRNA vaccine because it may take time for Moderna to distribute it throughout the country.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Who can I trust if I&#8217;m seeking accurate information about vaccines?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Due to confusing advice from some federal health officials, it\u2019s now harder to find accurate, trustworthy information about vaccines.<\/p>\n<p>Barron is encouraging patients to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/services\/immunizations-and-vaccines\/\">rely on advice from their own doctors<\/a> and organizations that represent doctors and to continue\u00a0relying on legitimate experts and researchers.<\/p>\n<p>Health insurance plans should cover most vaccines. But due to vaccine misinformation, there is some confusion about whether all health plans will cover vaccines.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There are a lot of unknowns,&#8221; Barron said. &#8220;Unfortunately, we don&#8217;t have all the information yet. We don&#8217;t know if there will be restrictions on doctors and pharmacists.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>She is also very concerned for lower-income people, some of whom may not have health insurance and might struggle to get their 2026-2027 COVID-19 and flu vaccines.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tOyvNNTxBfY?mute=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"Why are vaccines important in general | Dr. Michelle Barron | UCHealth\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>For now, if you get your health insurance through your job, check with your employer or health insurance provider about vaccine costs. In past years, health insurance companies were required to pay for the cost of vaccines that medical experts at the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had approved and recommended.<\/p>\n<p>This year, with widespread misinformation and the turmoil in Washington, D.C. and in Atlanta at the CDC headquarters, some health insurance plans may no longer cover the full cost of vaccines. Some health insurance providers may require co-pays. Many employers, however, will continue to cover vaccines since they want their employees to stay healthy.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>When will the newest vaccines be available?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Some large pharmacies already have the new versions of the COVID-19 and flu vaccines in stock. Others will be getting them in the coming days. Actions from federal officials have not stopped vaccine manufacturers from shipping vaccines, Barron said. So, reaching out to your doctor in the next month or two should be good timing for getting your vaccines if you&#8217;re able to do so.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Which COVID-19 variants are circulating now?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px;padding: 0px\">The dominant variants\u00a0<span style=\"margin: 0px;padding: 0px\">causing COVID-19 infections now are all descendants of the Omicron variant,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/uchealth.org\/today\/new-variant-of-covid-19-omicron\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">which surfaced <\/a><\/span>in late 2021\u00a0and has been dominant ever since.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The current dominant variant is called XFG.1.1. According to what\u2019s known as \u201cNowcast\u201d data from the CDC, XFG variants were causing the majority of COVID-19 cases over the summer. Another emerging variant is called SW.2.<\/p>\n<p>Barron said COVID-19 cases were not as high in the summer of 2026 as in previous summers. It\u2019s too soon to know how big a spike of COVID-19 cases we will see this fall and winter. As case numbers climb, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/colorado-new-real-time-dashboard-tracks-local-illnesses-with-wastewater-data\/\">wastewater data will indicate<\/a> which variants are driving the most infections.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bK1uFZBO1wc?mute=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"Which brand of COVID-19 vaccine should I get | Dr. Michelle Barron | UCHealth\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Will the new 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine fight the newest variants?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes. Vaccine makers have tailored the newest vaccines to fight the newest variants.<\/p>\n<p>FDA health advisors voted in May to <a id=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/vaccines-blood-biologics\/industry-biologics\/covid-19-vaccines-2026-2027-formula-use-united-states-beginning-fall-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">authorize a new formula for the 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Different variants were dominant in the spring and summer of this year, but all of the variants that have caused infections so far in 2026 are descendants of the omicron variant. So, the newest COVID-19 vaccines should help fight variants that are likely to cause infections this fall and winter.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Is that also true for flu shots? Do vaccine makers change the shots every year?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, vaccine makers create new versions of flu shots each year. Researchers and vaccine makers study flu outbreaks each year in the southern hemisphere, months before the flu season starts in the U.S. and elsewhere in the northern hemisphere. Researchers and vaccine experts then create annual flu shots based on the variants that they anticipate will become dominant months later.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>When does the typical flu season start and end?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The typical flu season in the U.S. lasts from October through May, but each year is different. We don\u2019t know yet whether cases of the flu will begin spiking relatively early in the fall or whether they\u2019ll increase closer to Thanksgiving or Christmas, Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why you shouldn\u2019t worry about the perfect timing for getting your flu shot. Your immunity will last for several months, and you want to be protected in case flu infections start to rise early.<\/p>\n<p>Barron advises people to simply get their vaccines when it\u2019s most convenient.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s no magic in getting it early or getting it late. We can\u2019t predict the future. So, the best time to get your shots is when it\u2019s convenient. If you have five minutes, go get your shots. It\u2019s really about getting it done and getting it off of your to-do list,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Is there a &#8216;COVID season&#8217; when infections and hospitalizations typically increase?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>People can get COVID-19 any time of year. During the earliest days of the pandemic, cases spiked in spring 2020 because no one had protection against the new virus. In subsequent years, COVID-19 cases typically rose during the winter months, much like flu cases. Each year since 2020, there also have been summer spikes in COVID-19 cases. There weren\u2019t as many COVID-19 infections this year during the summer. It\u2019s also hard to track how common COVID-19 is now because many people don\u2019t report it if they get sick.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What are the common symptoms of a COVID-19 infection now? Is it more like a cold, or are people getting severely ill when they get COVID-19 these days?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OqPUK-rrgvQ?mute=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"What are the common symptoms with COVID-19 now | Dr. Michelle Barron | UCHealth\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>A COVID-19 infection still makes people feel really lousy, Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>A case of COVID-19 feels far worse than a cold.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe current strain of COVID-19 is causing people to feel terrible,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>As an infectious disease expert, Barron sees patients hospitalized with COVID-19. She also hears from friends, family members and other patients who update her when they get sick.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople who have COVID now have told me about the terrible headaches, fatigue and sore throats,\u201d Barron said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a walk in the park. It\u2019s not a cold. We equate a cold with having a runny nose and coughing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With both COVID-19 and the flu, people can get much sicker, and the symptoms can last for days.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople get fevers and headaches and a really horrible sore throat. Somebody described it to me as feeling like they had swallowed razors,\u201d Barron said. \u201cIt could be the flu. It could be COVID, but it\u2019s much more severe than the common cold.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust to be clear, the common cold can be annoying as heck. But colds typically are limited to the upper airway,\u201d Barron said. \u201cWith flu and COVID, you have more systemic issues. You might have muscle aches and body aches, and you feel so tired that even walking to the bathroom seems hard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Barron encourages people to get vaccines so they can stay healthy and can protect vulnerable friends, family members and co-workers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t just do it for yourself. Look at the people in your household or in your life. If you have individuals in your life who have medical conditions \u2014 which can include your children \u2014 not getting COVID-19 and transmitting it to them is a really good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Should people still get tested for COVID-19 or flu if they feel sick?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yes, there are simple tests, and if you feel lousy, it\u2019s a good idea to figure out if you have COVID-19 or the flu.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are home tests for flu and for COVID,\u201d Barron said. \u201cAnd so why do you care (which illness you have)? Because there are medications you still can take that help diminish the symptoms, or if you&#8217;re a high-risk person, the medications are likely to keep you from ending up in the hospital. So testing is still important. The results just don\u2019t get reported (to health agencies) like they used to.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What\u2019s your overall advice to people who are nervous about vaccines?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Barron encourages people to talk with their medical providers if they\u2019re worried.<\/p>\n<p>Doctors&#8217; primary concern is keeping patients healthy and safe.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand that there\u2019s a lot of fear and anxiety because there\u2019s so much information out in the world, and it\u2019s hard to discern what is real and what is not,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is where I put it back on individuals to talk to their provider. Your provider has no interest in anything other than keeping you healthy. It\u2019s our job to keep you healthy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Political affiliations and political opinions don\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe doctor\u2019s thoughts about the world are completely separate.\u00a0 At the end of the day, our job is to keep you safe and healthy. We are not paid by pharmaceutical companies. None of us goes to medical school or nursing school or physician assistant school with the idea that we are going to harm someone,\u201d Barron said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGet rid of the noise and just ask the person who actually cares for you and knows about vaccines and has studied the information,\u201d she said. \u201cWe can give you really solid information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines will fight the newest COVID-19 variants. And there\u2019s a new type of flu shot that could be even more effective than traditional vaccines in fighting the flu. Medical experts strongly recommend COVID-19 and flu shots for nearly all children and adults ages 6 months and older. \u201cAll of the medical [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2123,"featured_media":85067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,8],"tags":[4860,9069],"class_list":["post-85065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthy-living","category-news","tag-covid-19","tag-covid-19-vaccine","post_format-post-format-video"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.5 (Yoast SEO v28.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What you need to know about the 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine and flu shots - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what&#039;s new with 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots, including a new mRNA flu vaccine that could be 25% more effective.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Protect yourself from COVID-19 and flu this fall and winter. Everything you need to know about updated 2026-27 vaccines.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn what&#039;s new with 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots, including a new mRNA flu vaccine that could be 25% more effective.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UCHealth Today\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-08T12:00:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-09T21:05:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/21161156\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@uchealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@uchealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"17 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d43cd81d6f8e440a3e496f8a012c68e9\"},\"headline\":\"Protect yourself from COVID-19 and flu this fall and winter. Everything you need to know about updated 2026-27 vaccines.\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-08T12:00:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-09T21:05:44+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4046,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/21161156\\\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"COVID-19\",\"COVID-19 vaccine\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Healthy living\",\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/\",\"name\":\"What you need to know about the 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine and flu shots - UCHealth Today\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/21161156\\\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-08T12:00:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-09T21:05:44+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn what's new with 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots, including a new mRNA flu vaccine that could be 25% more effective.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/21161156\\\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/21161156\\\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.webp\",\"width\":800,\"height\":532,\"caption\":\"Getting your updated 2025-26 COVID-19 and flu vaccines soon can help protect you from serious illness this fall and winter. Photo: Getty Images.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Protect yourself from COVID-19 and flu this fall and winter. Everything you need to know about updated 2026-27 vaccines.\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\",\"name\":\"UCHealth Today\",\"description\":\"UCHealth Today\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"UCHealth\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/24135149\\\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/24135149\\\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"UCHealth\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/uchealthorg\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/uchealth\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/uchealth\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/school\\\/14839\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/uchealthorg\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UC41SJI79yjZIe96OajzN22g\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d43cd81d6f8e440a3e496f8a012c68e9\",\"name\":\"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e4b3e7f171d65a6d6ea64ec84c6b217b969af09b9439c593a692bbcccd793724?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e4b3e7f171d65a6d6ea64ec84c6b217b969af09b9439c593a692bbcccd793724?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e4b3e7f171d65a6d6ea64ec84c6b217b969af09b9439c593a692bbcccd793724?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth\"},\"description\":\"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon is a proud Coloradan. She attended Colorado College thanks to a merit scholarship from the Boettcher Foundation and worked as a park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park during summers in college. Katie is a dedicated storyteller who loves getting to know UCHealth patients and providers and sharing their inspiring stories. Katie spent years working as an award-winning journalist at the Rocky Mountain News and at an online health policy news site before joining UCHealth in 2017. Katie and her husband, Cyrus \u2014 a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer \u2014 have three adult children and love spending time in the Colorado mountains and traveling around the world.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/author\\\/mccrimmonk\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What you need to know about the 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine and flu shots - UCHealth Today","description":"Learn what's new with 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots, including a new mRNA flu vaccine that could be 25% more effective.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Protect yourself from COVID-19 and flu this fall and winter. Everything you need to know about updated 2026-27 vaccines.","og_description":"Learn what's new with 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots, including a new mRNA flu vaccine that could be 25% more effective.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/","og_site_name":"UCHealth Today","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/","article_published_time":"2026-09-08T12:00:57+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-09-09T21:05:44+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/21161156\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@uchealth","twitter_site":"@uchealth","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth","Est. reading time":"17 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/"},"author":{"name":"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/person\/d43cd81d6f8e440a3e496f8a012c68e9"},"headline":"Protect yourself from COVID-19 and flu this fall and winter. Everything you need to know about updated 2026-27 vaccines.","datePublished":"2026-09-08T12:00:57+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-09T21:05:44+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/"},"wordCount":4046,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/21161156\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.webp","keywords":["COVID-19","COVID-19 vaccine"],"articleSection":["Healthy living","News"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/","name":"What you need to know about the 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine and flu shots - UCHealth Today","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/21161156\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.webp","datePublished":"2026-09-08T12:00:57+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-09T21:05:44+00:00","description":"Learn what's new with 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots, including a new mRNA flu vaccine that could be 25% more effective.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/21161156\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/21161156\/GettyImages-2188471111-covid-flu-2025-vaccines-web.webp","width":800,"height":532,"caption":"Getting your updated 2025-26 COVID-19 and flu vaccines soon can help protect you from serious illness this fall and winter. Photo: Getty Images."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19-vaccine-and-flu-shots\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Protect yourself from COVID-19 and flu this fall and winter. Everything you need to know about updated 2026-27 vaccines."}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/","name":"UCHealth Today","description":"UCHealth Today","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization","name":"UCHealth","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/24135149\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/24135149\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"caption":"UCHealth"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/","https:\/\/x.com\/uchealth","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/uchealth\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/school\/14839\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/uchealthorg\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC41SJI79yjZIe96OajzN22g"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/person\/d43cd81d6f8e440a3e496f8a012c68e9","name":"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e4b3e7f171d65a6d6ea64ec84c6b217b969af09b9439c593a692bbcccd793724?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e4b3e7f171d65a6d6ea64ec84c6b217b969af09b9439c593a692bbcccd793724?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e4b3e7f171d65a6d6ea64ec84c6b217b969af09b9439c593a692bbcccd793724?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth"},"description":"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon is a proud Coloradan. She attended Colorado College thanks to a merit scholarship from the Boettcher Foundation and worked as a park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park during summers in college. Katie is a dedicated storyteller who loves getting to know UCHealth patients and providers and sharing their inspiring stories. Katie spent years working as an award-winning journalist at the Rocky Mountain News and at an online health policy news site before joining UCHealth in 2017. Katie and her husband, Cyrus \u2014 a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer \u2014 have three adult children and love spending time in the Colorado mountains and traveling around the world.","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/author\/mccrimmonk\/"}]}},"coauthors":[{"id":2123,"name":"Katie Kerwin McCrimmon","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/author\/mccrimmonk\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2123"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85065"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93607,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85065\/revisions\/93607"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}