One of the most common questions Kohll’s Rx has received recently is whether older adults can get a second dose of the 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine. The confusion is understandable. Federal health officials have narrowed vaccine recommendations for younger and lower-risk groups, leaving many seniors unsure how the changes apply to them.
Here’s the clear answer: a second dose is not only allowed, it is recommended.
In November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance to encourage adults age 65 and older to receive two doses of this season’s COVID-19 vaccine. Ideally, the doses should be spaced six months apart to optimize protection, though individuals may receive the second dose as soon as two to three months after the first.
The same recommendation applies to people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, who are also eligible for two doses of the 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine. Importantly, no documentation is required to prove immunocompromised status. Vaccinators are explicitly instructed not to deny vaccination due to a lack of medical records or paperwork.
This guidance is a welcome and necessary step. Research shows that protection from COVID-19 vaccines can wane significantly after four to six months, making an additional dose especially important for those at higher risk of severe illness.
This clarification is particularly helpful for many Kohll’s Rx patients who receive medications in pill pack form and manage multiple chronic conditions. Many of these individuals received the updated COVID-19 vaccine from a Kohll’s Rx traveling nurse in early September and asked whether receiving another dose in early January would be too soon.
According to the CDC, it is not. While waiting six months may extend protection longer, receiving the second dose in January is a reasonable and appropriate option.
Kohll’s Rx has already been administering second doses to immunocompromised patients and continues to visit senior care facilities to provide additional COVID-19 vaccine doses for eligible residents.
Overall, it is reassuring to know that stronger, longer-lasting protection remains available for those who need it most.
Learn more about all of the vaccines offered at Kohll’s Rx or book an appointment today at one of our five convenient locations.