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Should you really get a new Covid shot in 2026?
Daily Kos • • health
Key Points:
- A recent JAMA systematic review of 155 studies from August 2025 to June 2026 found that updated Covid vaccines roughly halve the risk of serious outcomes, with no new safety concerns identified, though no direct data exist yet on the 2026–2027 vaccine itself.
- Older adults remain the highest risk group, accounting for 88% of Covid deaths, and updated vaccines last season reduced hospitalizations by about 53–59%, ICU admissions by 57%, and deaths by 73%, supporting vaccination to lessen disease severity.
- Children and immunocompromised individuals also benefit from updated shots, with significant reductions in emergency visits and critical illness, while healthcare workers with multiple doses have fewer infections and less long Covid.
- The author personally delayed getting the updated shot this season, monitoring local Covid waves and planning to vaccinate if cases rise, emphasizing that high-risk individuals should get vaccinated promptly without delay.
- Despite observational study limitations, the evidence supports ongoing Covid vaccination similar to annual flu shots, and the author encourages informed decisions based on current data and personal risk factors.
