What Is the Newest COVID-19 Vaccination?

As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of the pandemic, staying informed about the latest developments in vaccination is important. At Asheville Medicine & Pediatrics we want to provide current guidance about the newest COVID-19 vaccination updates so you and your family can make decisions in partnership with your provider.

What’s New This Year

The most recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that for the 2024-2025 vaccination season the COVID-19 vaccines being used in the United States have been reformulated. Specifically:

•           The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine formulations are now monovalent (meaning they target a single strain) based on the Omicron JN.1 lineage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

•           Brand-specific products (for example, those from Pfizer‑BioNTech and Moderna) are labelled for the 2024-2025 season and reflect these updates.

•           According to the CDC: “The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you from severe illness, hospitalization, and death. It is especially important to get your 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine.”

Why Update the Vaccine?

The virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to evolve. Immunity from earlier vaccinations or previous infections wanes over time. The formulation update helps provide better match to currently circulating strains.

Even though the overall risk from COVID-19 hospitalizations has declined compared to the earliest pandemic years, there remain people at elevated risk (older adults, those with underlying health conditions). The updated vaccines help reduce that risk of severe disease.

What Has Changed in Recommendations?

One key shift in the CDC’s latest guidance is the adoption of a “shared clinical decision-making” approach for COVID-19 vaccination in both adult and child immunization schedules. This means that the decision to receive the updated vaccine - particularly for lower-risk individuals - should be based on personal health circumstances and a discussion with a healthcare provider. Rather than a universal recommendation, this approach allows for more individualized care and consideration of each person’s unique risk factors and medical history.

However, vaccination remains strongly recommended for those at higher risk of severe illness, including older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and individuals with underlying health conditions. For these groups, the updated vaccine continues to provide critical protection against serious outcomes like hospitalization and severe disease.
 

Get Expert Guidance from Asheville Medicine & Pediatrics

The newest COVID-19 vaccination, tailored for the 2024-2025 season, represents a targeted effort to keep pace with the changing virus. For many individuals, it offers meaningful protection against severe illness. At Asheville Medicine & Pediatrics, we’re here to help you navigate what’s right for you, your children, and your family.
 

If you haven’t yet discussed the updated COVID-19 vaccine, or if it’s been more than a year since your last dose, schedule a consultation at Asheville Medicine today. Contact our office in Arden or Asheville, North Carolina, by calling (828) 651-0121 to book an appointment.