*Vaccine availability and administration capabilities vary by location and state regulation.
The Updated COVID-19 Vaccine
Due to the evolving nature of the virus, the CDC recommends receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to ensure optimal immune protection against serious consequences of COVID-19 illness. Our pharmacies and clinics are ready to administer the vaccine as soon as doses are delivered to our facilities. Access our Vaccine Scheduler to determine whether the updated COVID-19 vaccine is available at a location near you.
Where Can I Get the Updated Vaccine?
Our pharmacies are prepared to administer the updated COVID-19 vaccine as soon as the doses are delivered to our locations. Access our Vaccine Scheduler to determine whether the updated COVID-19 vaccine is available at a location near you.
What is the Updated COVID-19 Vaccine?
The updated COVID-19 vaccines are formulated to target the currently circulating variants, providing better protection from serious COVID-19 illness.
Do I Need The Updated Vaccine?
Everyone over the age of 6 months should get 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they’ve received any original COVID-19 vaccines. People over the age of 65, or those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, may require an additional dose.
Where Can I Get the Updated Vaccine?
Our pharmacies are prepared to administer the updated COVID-19 vaccine as soon as the doses are delivered to our locations. Access our Vaccine Scheduler to determine whether the updated COVID-19 vaccine is available at a location near you.
What is the Updated COVID-19 Vaccine?
The updated COVID-19 vaccines are formulated to target the currently circulating variants, providing better protection from serious COVID-19 illness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following frequently asked questions were created following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Patients with private health insurance should have the cost of the vaccine covered through Affordable Care Act.
- Patients with Medicare and/or Medicaid should have the cost of the vaccine covered through the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Patients without health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid should be able to receive a free vaccine from the Health Department as part of the CDC’s Bridge Access Program or the Vaccines for Children Program.
COVID-19 vaccines remain safe and effective. They prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines make people more likely to have a milder and shorter illness compared to those who are unvaccinated.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available to individuals 6 months or older.
The COVID-19 vaccine is free of charge to most individuals living in the United States.
Both vaccines are FDA authorized in the United States and considered safe and effective. The FDA, CDC and ACIP have not declared preference for one vaccine over another. The best vaccine is the first one available to you!
Depending on the area, our pharmacies will administer Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Both vaccines are safe and effective, and there is no preference for one over the other.
For most patients, you are considered “up to date” if you have received the most recent updated dose recommended for you by the CDC.
Our pharmacies are trained and ready to administer the COVID-19 vaccines. As doses are allocated to us, we are administering in accordance with jurisdiction-defined eligibility.
Patients with a weakened immune system are recommended to receive an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine because they are most likely to get severely ill and are at a higher risk for prolonged infection. Our pharmacies and clinics are able to provide additional doses to eligible patients.
Booster doses of a vaccine are needed when evidence shows the vaccinated population’s immune response over time is waning or weakening. Additional doses of a vaccine are needed when evidence shows the vaccinated population’s immune response over time is insufficient.
Studies show immunocompromised people need an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine because they don’t always build the same level of immunity the way non-immunocompromised people do, and an additional dose promotes adequate protection.
Novavax is the first COVID-19 protein subunit vaccine that the CDC has recommended for use in the United States. It is a two-dose primary vaccine series for people age 18 years and older who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Protein subunit vaccines like Novavax contain harmless pieces (proteins) of the COVID-19 virus in addition to another ingredient called an adjuvant to help your immune system respond to the virus in the future. mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna teach our cells how to make the protein that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. This immune response produces antibodies and helps protect us from getting sick from the virus in the future.
The updated COVID-19 vaccine provides better immune protection against the currently circulating COVID-19 variant known as the variant XBB.1.5.
For more COVID-19 related FAQs and information, please visit the CDC's website.
*Available only for patients who received a COVID-19 vaccine at a Kroger Co. Family of Stores Pharmacy.
Other Recommended Vaccines
Are you up to date on all your vaccines? While getting your COVID-19 vaccine, you can also get vaccinated for influenza (flu), shingles, pneumonia and more.
Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
Keep your family healthy with free flu vaccines available in-store.*Learn About InfluenzaShingles Vaccine
If you’re over 50, it may be time for your herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine.Learn About ShinglesPneumonia Vaccine
There are 4 types of pneumonia vaccines to help prevent pneumococcal disease.Learn About PneumoniaTdap Vaccine
Adults need one dose of Tdap, then a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years.Learn About TdapInfluenza (Flu) Vaccine
Keep your family healthy with free flu vaccines available in-store.*Learn About InfluenzaShingles Vaccine
If you’re over 50, it may be time for your herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine.Learn About ShinglesPneumonia Vaccine
There are 4 types of pneumonia vaccines to help prevent pneumococcal disease.Learn About PneumoniaTdap Vaccine
Adults need one dose of Tdap, then a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years.Learn About TdapTools & Resources
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
†The Pfizer vaccine has been approved by FDA for use in individuals 16 years of age and older. For individuals age 6 months – 15 years old, this product has not been approved or licensed by FDA, but has been authorized for emergency use by FDA, under an EUA to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The emergency use of this product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of the medical product under Section 564(b)(1) of the FD&C Act unless the declaration is terminated or authorization revoked sooner.
The Moderna vaccines have not been approved or licensed by FDA, but have been authorized for emergency use by FDA, under an EUA to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for use in individuals 6 months of age and older; and the emergency use of these products is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of the medical products under Section 564(b)(1) of the FD&C Act unless the declaration is terminated or authorization revoked sooner.
The J&J vaccines have not been approved or licensed by FDA, but have been authorized for emergency use by FDA, under an EUA to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for use in individuals 18 years of age and older; and the emergency use of these products is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of the medical products under Section 564(b)(1) of the FD&C Act unless the declaration is terminated or authorization revoked sooner.