COVID-19 Vaccine

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Updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines are coming soon.

Until then, here are a few ways you can prepare for respiratory virus season this fall and winter:

Talk to your doctor about vaccines recommended for you.
Check your health insurance benefits.
Take everyday steps to prevent the spread of germs.

Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines

Everyone 6 months and older should get one dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least two months since their last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. This year’s vaccines protect against serious illness from more current strains of the virus.

Some people may need additional doses, including:

People aged 6 months and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
Children under 5, depending on timing and previous COVID-19 vaccinations.
Adults age 65 and older.

Two COVID-19 vaccines were updated for 2024-2025—Pfizer and Moderna. The FDA has not approved a 2024-2025 Novavax vaccine yet.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines (CDC)

Know your rights when getting vaccines.

You do NOT need insurance to get vaccinated. You may be asked if you have insurance for reimbursement reasons, but you cannot be denied vaccination if you have no insurance. See where to get vaccinated in Vermont
You do NOT need to share a Social Security Number or driver’s license/state ID number. In Vermont, you are not required to provide that information and you cannot be turned away from getting vaccinated if you do not provide identification. If you do provide it, it will be used only for the pharmacy's reimbursement purposes.
You do NOT need to be a U.S. citizen. Everyone can receive COVID-19 services, regardless of immigration status. Information you share will not be shared with immigration services and vaccinations paid for by the federal government will not impact anyone’s current or future immigration status.

Learn more at Vermont Health Equity Initiative

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Find COVID-19 Vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines are available at primary care practices, pharmacies, local health offices, and other locations across Vermont. Please check with the location where you get your other routine vaccines—like flu shots—when you make an appointment to make sure they have COVID-19 vaccines available.

COVID-19 vaccines are available at no cost to you. Anyone can get vaccinated in Vermont, including those who live in another state, are non-U.S. citizens, or who have no insurance.

For most people, their health insurance will cover the cost of getting vaccinated.
For people who do not have health insurance, or who have insurance that does not cover the cost of vaccines (less common), the Vermont Immunization Program can cover the cost of the vaccine directly to the provider.
- Health care providers can charge a small fee to give the vaccine.
- Talk to your doctor before getting vaccinated to find out how much it may cost. Some practices offer a sliding scale.
If you do not have health insurance and are under the age of 65, you can make an appointment at your Local Health Office to get vaccinated. Local health offices do not charge a fee for giving the vaccine.

Find pharmacies that provide vaccines at Vaccines.gov

Children Insured by Medicaid

Children ages 3 and older who are insured by Medicaid can get no-cost COVID-19 vaccines at Vermont pharmacies.

Adults 65+ With Insurance

Adults ages 65 and older should contact their local pharmacies to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Health care providers may also have COVID-19 vaccines for this age group—please confirm with your doctor’s office.

Help Getting Vaccinated

Anyone under the age of 65 without health insurance can get vaccinated by appointment at local health offices. Local health offices can also help vaccinate those under age 65 with health insurance if they are not able to get vaccinated through other locations due to lack of transportation or other barriers.

Need a ride? If you do not have transportation to get a COVID-19 vaccine, please contact your local public transportation provider or call Vermont Public Transportation Association (VPTA) at 833-387-7200.

English language learners, or immigrant or refugee community members, who would like to learn more about vaccine clinics can contact the Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV) at 802-985-3106.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why aren’t there state-run vaccine clinics anymore?

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, large-scale vaccination clinics were the best way to meet the high demand and need for COVID-19 vaccines.

The Public Health Emergency ended in May 2023 and COVID-19 vaccines are now like other routine vaccines. This means COVID-19 vaccines are available at doctors' offices, pharmacies, local health offices and other places where you routinely get vaccines. It also means that like other routine vaccines, there is no longer federal funding to support large-scale vaccination clinics.

What is the process for vaccine distribution in Vermont?

The process for getting and distributing vaccines has changed to be more like other routine vaccines.

When vaccines are approved and recommended for use, Vermont gets a set amount of vaccine from the federal government. The number of vaccines is based on availability and state population size.
Vaccine locations can then order vaccines from the Vermont Vaccine Program. Some pharmacies get vaccines directly from the federal government (for example, Walgreens and CVS).
Vaccines are then sent out to different vaccination locations, including doctors’ offices, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and mobile vaccination units.

Why can’t I get the brand of COVID-19 vaccine that I want?

Vaccine supply is limited at the beginning of the season because manufacturers distribute supply throughout the season, not in one shipment. If your preferred vaccine brand is unavailable, you can check to see when your pharmacy or provider expects to get more, or you can get the vaccine that is available.

When is the best time to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Everyone 6 months and older should follow COVID-19 vaccine dose recommendations from the CDC. These recommendations are based on extensive data that found the right vaccine doses to create the needed immune response for each age group. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions.

Other considerations:

If you have recently recovered from COVID-19, you may consider delaying your vaccine by three months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you received a positive test.
After your primary vaccine series, it is recommended to wait at least two months from your last dose before getting additional vaccine doses.

Why should I get another COVID-19 vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death. However, public health experts are seeing reduced protection over time against mild and moderate disease, especially among certain populations. This is why vaccination recommendations are updated. Vaccine formulas are updated to provide protection against more current strains of the virus circulating in the U.S.

Find more information at CDC

Are the COVID-19 vaccines for children the same as the ones for adults?

The COVID-19 vaccines for children have the same active ingredients as the vaccines given to adults. However, young children get a smaller dose that is right for them. The smaller doses were thoroughly tested and found to create the needed immune response for each age group. This means it's important for your child to get the vaccine made for their age group. COVID-19 vaccine dosage is based on the child's age the day of vaccination, not on size or weight. This is true for other routinely recommended vaccines, like hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines. Find more information at CDC

How can I get a new vaccine card or get my vaccine records?

If you lost your vaccine card or need a copy of your vaccination records:

You may be able to get a new CDC COVID-19 vaccination card at the pharmacy or health care provider’s practice where you were vaccinated. Not all pharmacies or providers provide this service. Call them to confirm this service is available.
Vermont Immunization Registry (IMR) can give you a copy of your vaccination record by mail (within a week) or secure email (within two business days). NOTE: The IMR and CDC cannot issue you a new white CDC COVID-19 vaccination card or provide QR codes. Instructions on how to request vaccine records

How can I keep my vaccine card and record up to date?

Keep your vaccine card in a safe place so you don't lose it, like in your wallet or stored with other important documents. You can also take a picture of it with your smartphone.
Do not laminate your vaccine card. The ink on your card could run when heat is applied making it difficult to read. Also, additional doses will not be able to be recorded if the card is laminated.
If vaccinated in another state, check with your doctor that your vaccination is on record. This will ensure that your medical records are updated, and your vaccine is recorded in the Vermont Immunization Registry.