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Many readers were relieved to learn that a second dose of this season’s covid vaccine is not only available but recommended for older adults, as I reported late last month. Some asked about the optimal timing of that dose, while others asked about the flu shot in the midst of what appears to be a particularly severe flu season. This newsletter is dedicated to answering those questions.
“I had a covid shot in May 2025 and September 2025,” asked Lynn from New York. “When should I get my next one?”
Assuming Lynn received the 2025-2026 version of the covid vaccine in September and is eligible for another shot (meaning she is 65 or older or immunocompromised), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends another dose six months after the last one. If the September dose was from the prior season, she can receive the 2025-2026 vaccine now, followed by another dose about six months later.
Some have specific reasons for wanting a second dose sooner than six months. Murray from Florida will attend his niece’s wedding in mid-February. Angela from Maryland is going on a cruise around the same time. If it has been more than two or three months since their last covid dose, and these are the highest-risk events on their near-term calendar, they can consider repeat vaccination about two weeks before the wedding or cruise to optimize protection.
Others asked whether a third dose might be an option. Jo Ellen from Virginia is 75 and has diabetes and cardiovascular disease. She received the updated coronavirus covid shot in September. “I am scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery in late February and I am going out of the country July 1,” she wrote. “Is it possible for me to get a second covid vaccine before my surgery and a third one before the trip?”
Under current CDC guidance, Jo Ellen is recommended to receive two covid shots this season. A third dose may be possible if her physician is willing to prescribe it off-label, meaning outside the specific use formally authorized for this vaccine. If she feels strongly about this, she should discuss it with her physician to see whether that approach makes sense in her case.
Many readers asked whether they could receive not only a second covid vaccine but also a second flu shot this season. Renee from Maryland wrote that she and her partner are both in their 70s. “Will there be a possible second flu vaccine that contains the strain that was excluded this year? We got our flu shots in October 2025 and now feel very vulnerable.”
I understand Renee’s concern. A large share of flu infections this season appear to be driven by a strain known as H3N2, which differs from those included in this year’s vaccine. Thankfully, flu shots are still expected to reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death.
There are no plans to release a new version of this season’s flu vaccine, and a second flu shot is not recommended. With flu activity very high across much of the country, older adults and others at higher risk should focus on additional protective steps, such as masking in crowded indoor settings and asking guests to self-test prior to intimate gatherings.
“Should kids still get vaccinated against the flu?” asked Phil from New Jersey. “I thought this was recommended but then heard that it’s not.”
Indeed, the CDC’s public messaging has changed, though the supporting science has not. For decades, flu vaccination was recommended for everyone six months and older for a simple reason: It reduces the risk of infection and severe illness.
It is a myth that young, otherwise healthy children cannot become seriously ill from the flu. About half of children who died from influenza last season had no underlying medical conditions. This year’s flu season has also hit kids hard. In New York City, more than half of reported flu cases have occurred in children.
I think it was a serious mistake for the CDC to stop recommending flu vaccination to children — along with other long-standing, safe and effective vaccines. Many hospitals and clinics have instead chosen to follow the immunization guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which I urge readers to do as well.
Phil from New York has a dilemma. He is 74, has multiple lung conditions and is a season-ticket holder for the St. John’s basketball team, which plays at Madison Square Garden. “Should I be concerned about attending the games since the flu is currently at a very high level in New York City?” he asked.
This is a difficult question; it echoes predicaments many people faced at the height of the covid pandemic. My advice then, and now, is to weigh personal risk factors alongside how important an event is to you. On the one hand, flu activity has reached record highs in New York City (though last week, officials reported possible early signs of decline). Being indoors with thousands of people does carry risk. A large arena with high ceilings and good ventilation is safer than smaller, crowded indoor spaces, but it is not risk-free.
On the other hand, attending the game may be very important to Phil and his social and emotional well-being. If he decides to go, he should wear a well-fitting N95 mask or something equivalent and avoid crowded settings on the way there, such as restaurants and bars and packed trains.
Six years since the start of the pandemic, we are fortunate to have multiple tools to protect ourselves from the flu and other serious respiratory viruses. As federal health guidance increasingly departs from science in ways that risk real harm, people should look to trusted medical societies and their own clinicians when making decisions.
The post Answering your questions about this season’s respiratory viruses appeared first on Washington Post.
