COVID-19

COVID-19 remains a significant threat, with thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths occurring weekly in the U.S.

Despite the success of vaccines, some people have risk factors that put them at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including older adults, pregnant people, those with chronic illness, young children, and others.

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Who needs to be protected?

The best way to help prevent COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older, including pregnant people, stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Age is the biggest risk factor for severe illness from COVID-19, but your risk also increases if you have certain health conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, and more. People from vulnerable communities, such as racial and ethnic minority groups and those living in rural areas, may also be at increased risk.

In addition to these risk factors, according to CDC, people who are unvaccinated and people who are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines are more likely to have severe illness from COVID-19. In fall 2023, CDC found that 95% of adults hospitalized due to COVID-19 were not up to date on their vaccines.

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What vaccine options are available?

Three COVID-19 vaccines are available in the U.S., including two mRNA vaccine options (Moderna and Pfizer) and one protein-based vaccine option (Novavax).

Many pharmacies offer a range of vaccines. Visit vaccines.gov to find a pharmacy near you.

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I’m feeling lousy. How do I figure out what I have?

Visit CDC’s website to learn more about symptoms for COVID-19, influenza (flu), whooping cough, pneumococcal disease, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include:

• Fever* or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

*There is some research that indicates that fever in older adults may be lower than the typical 101.4 F.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, it’s important to get tested. At-home testing options are available, and many healthcare providers offer testing in their practices.

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What should I do if I or a loved one has COVID-19?

It is important to follow CDC guidance to help protect yourself from severe illness and to prevent spreading the disease to others.

Some individuals may be at higher risk of getting severe illness from COVID-19. If this applies to you or your loved one, talk to a healthcare provider as soon as possible to determine if an antiviral treatment option approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is right for you. COVID-19 oral antivirals are most effective at preventing severe illness when they are started as soon as possible after being infected — within 5 days after symptoms begin.