COVID VACCINE - Frequently Asked Questions, Updated September 2, 2026

Respiratory illness like COVID are particularly dangerous for infants, seniors, pregnant women, and those with underlying health conditions.  When immunization rates drop, illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths increase.

Fall 2026 COVID Vaccine Formulas
The COVID-19 vaccines for the fall 2026 respiratory season are monovalent.  A monovalent COVID-19 vaccine is a vaccine that targets only one specific variant of the virus. Monovalent vaccines are typically developed and used when a new, dominant variant of the virus emerges and the previous vaccines may not provide adequate protection against it. The goal is to provide targeted immunity against the dominant circulating variant.  The fall 2026 Covid-19 vaccines have an updated formula targeting XFG, an Omicron subvariant. Updated vaccines have consistently provided people 30-60% additional protection against urgent care visits or hospitalization compared to people who didn’t get the vaccine. It is important to get the updated formula because this variant is highly transmissible and can partially evade the immunity built up by vaccination and earlier infections with other coronavirus strains. 

Vaccine Composition. None of the approved formulas from Pfizer, Moderna, or Novovax contain fetal cells. Some vaccines use historic human cell lines, originally developed in the 1960s, during the manufacturing process. These cell lines are not present in the final vaccine product. The Vatican has stated that it is morally acceptable to get vaccines that used fetal cell lines, especially when no other options are available and public health is at risk. Other Christian denominations, Judaism, and Islam have made similar statements.

Vaccine Options. Four updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2026-2027 season targeting the SARS-C0V-2 variant that dominated last season have been approved. Moderna, Pfizer and BioNTech, and Novavax, Sanofi, and Takeda 

Vaccine Eligibility.  Vaccination in Nebraska is open to all.  Medically vulnerable people should confer with their doctors for recommendations. 

Vaccine Safety. Allergic reactions are very rare and similar to reactions that can happen with other vaccines, medications, or some foods.  Mild systemic side effects include tiredness, body aches, and headaches, most of which last only 1-2 days and are treated with rest or over the counter medications. 

The vaccines:

• do not alter your DNA 
• do not cause infertility
• do not cause you to contract COVID
• are safe to co-administer with the flu vaccine

Vaccine Providers.  The 2026-2027 vaccine will be available through most pharmacies and health departments who have previously provided COVID vaccinations.  Call to verify availability at your preferred provider. The target date for the beginning of distribution is mid-September 2026.

Who Should Be Vaccinated  
Everyone six months and older but respiratory illness like COVID are particularly dangerous for infants, seniors, pregnant women, and those with underlying health conditions.  When immunization rates drop, illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths increase.

Highest Risk Factors. Experts recommend staying up to date on your COVID vaccines, especially if you:

• Are older than 50. It's even more important if you are over 65. Your risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID is much higher than a younger person's.
• Have an underlying health problem like diabetes, chronic lung disease, or obesity. Having COVID-19 can be much worse if you have conditions like these.
• Have a weakened immune system. You may be at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19. The vaccine may not work as well for you, but it should still be safe.
• Are pregnant, were recently pregnant, or are planning a pregnancy, or if you are breastfeeding. Getting the vaccine during pregnancy can help protect both you and your baby. Pregnancy makes it more likely that you will get seriously ill or even die from COVID. Getting vaccinated helps keep you safer. It helps protect your baby from COVID after birth too. For example, your baby is less likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19. There is no evidence that vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, cause fertility problems.
• Are at a higher risk for getting very sick or dying from COVID-19 because of where you live or work. People who don't have access to health care are also at a higher risk. So are people from racial and ethnic minority groups and some people with disabilities.

Leading Medical Association Recommendations*  
Children. Childhood and adolescent immunizations are a valuable public health tool to prevent infection, hospitalization, and death.  Maintaining high vaccination coverage is crucial for preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Staying up to date on vaccines are the best way to protect children from becoming severely ill or having long-lasting health impacts due to COVID-19. Moderna's mRNA vaccine (Spikevax) is approved for those ages 6 months+ with least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe COVID. A second Moderna mRNA vaccine (mNexspike) is approved for those ages 12 years+ with at least one underlying condition that boosts their risk of severe COVID.

Pfizer and BioNTech's mRNA vaccine (Comirnaty) is approved for those ages 5 years + with at least one underlying condition that increases severe COVID risk. Novavax and Sanofi's protein-based non-mRNA vaccine (Nuvaxovid) is approved for those ages 12  years + with at least one underlying condition that increases their risk of severe COVID.

The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to emphasize the importance of vaccinating children against COVID.  The AAP recommends all infants and children 6 through 23 months of age who do not have contraindications receive 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccine. The AAP also recommends a single dose of age-appropriate 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccine for all children and adolescents 2 through 18 years of age at increased risk of severe COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 vaccination status. Children 2 through 18 years of age not considered at increased risk of severe COVID-19 whose parent or guardian desires their protection from COVID-19 should be offered a single dose of age-appropriate 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccine. Any available COVID-19 vaccine appropriate by age and health status can be administered and the most updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine that is available should be used.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that patients receive all recommended immunizations and does not support nonmedical immunization exemptions

Pregnant Women. The Infectious Diseases Society of America, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, organizations that collectively represent a wide range of medical specialties and are committed to promoting evidence-based medicine and protecting public health, are strongly recommending COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant individuals. 

These organizations emphasize that vaccination is safe and effective during pregnancy and is the best way for pregnant individuals to protect themselves from severe illness and potential harm from COVID-19 infection, including death. They also highlight that the vaccines have no impact on fertility and that infants born to vaccinated individuals are also protected. 

Their recommendations are based on strong scientific evidence demonstrating the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination for both pregnant individuals and their infants. The organizations urge all pregnant individuals, as well as those recently pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding to get vaccinated. 

Insurance Coverage for the 2026-2027 Vaccines  
Insured Individuals: Most people with private health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid can still get the vaccine at no cost, but check with your insurance provider to see if they are covering COVID vaccination. Most are following the recommendations of the top five medical associations and covering it, some are not. 

Uninsured/Underinsured Individuals: However, some free or low-cost options available through state or local health departments or through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program for eligible children are available.

COVID in Vaccinated Individuals
Because no vaccine is 100% effective, some people will get COVID-19. These vaccine breakthrough cases are expected.  However, vaccinated persons are likely to:

• Spend fewer sick days in bed
• Be less likely to have fever or chills
• May be less likely to spread the virus to others

Prior COVID Infections
If you’ve recently had COVID, it’s still important to stay up to date with your vaccines.   However, you can wait three months since your symptoms began or, for asymptomatic cases, since you first tested positive. There’s also some evidence to support waiting as long as six months after a COVID infection to receive an updated COVID vaccine. Waiting longer than three months is not recommended for high-risk groups, but it’s something people can discuss with their doctor.

Annual COVID Vaccination
Just like the flu vaccine, an annual COVID vaccine is recommended by healthcare experts for everyone, but especially important for those who are:

• 65 years and older
• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
• Those who have underlying medical conditions in consultation with their healthcare provider
• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

Long COVID
Long COVID or post-COVID-19 syndrome is an array of symptoms that present four to eight weeks after acute illness has passed. Long COVID can affect both adults and children. The condition is thought to affect as many as 30 percent of patients and can include a continuation of symptoms suffered during the acute phase — shortness of breath or fatigue, for example — along with new symptoms that occur after patients feel like they’ve recovered: chest discomfort, severe pain, dizziness, vomiting, brain fog. Even people who did not have any symptoms can experience long COVID, which can present as different types and combinations of health problems and can range in lengths of time. More Q & A about long COVID.

Vaccination may reduce the risk of long COVID in two ways. The first is by reducing the risk of becoming infected with COVID in the first place. A recent study also shows that fully vaccinated people who experience breakthrough infections are about 50% less likely to develop long COVID than people who are infected without having been vaccinated. 

Antiviral COVID Drugs
Vaccination is the best line of defense against COVID-19. While antiviral drugs and other treatments are an important advancement, they are not 100% effective in reducing risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, and they are no substitute for getting vaccinated. Getting COVID-19 still causes serious health impacts for some people, especially those who are not vaccinated. Preventing serious infection by staying up to date on vaccinations and taking other precautions, like masking and distancing — particularly if your COVID-19 community level is high — are the best ways to protect your health. 

However, taking an antiviral drug can lessen the severity and duration of COVID if taken early.  Paxlovid, an oral antiviral pill that can be taken at home, is the go-to treatment for COVID-19. If you are at high risk for severe disease from COVID, and you take it within the first five days of experiencing symptoms, it will lower your risk of getting so sick that you need to be hospitalized.  Paxlovid was granted full approval in May 2023 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID in adults at high risk for severe disease, including hospitalization and death. The drug had an 89% reduction in the risk of hospitalization and death in unvaccinated people in the clinical trial.