CDC recommends fall 2023 COVID vaccine for everyone 6 months and older: Here’s what to know and where to get it

This information is current as of this posting on September 13, 2023.

Yesterday the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met and gave recommendations for the fall 2023 COVID vaccine. Here’s what they said:

CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older get a fall 2023 COVID vaccine.

The vaccination provides protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death among everyone, but especially among people most at risk, including adults 65 and older and people who are immunocompromised. We love epidemiologist Dr. Katelyn Jetelina’s review of the evidence presented at the ACIP meeting.

This fall vaccine targets just one strain (in other words, it’s a monovalent vaccine, as opposed to last fall’s bivalent vaccine). This vaccine targets a recent variant of the omicron strain, called XBB.1.5.

The vaccine should be available at pharmacies and other vaccination sites soon.

• Most doctor’s offices and area pharmacies will offer the vaccine. Visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccinator near you.
• At Public Health, we have to wait until the Wisconsin Department of Health Services updates our vaccination orders before we can vaccinate with the fall 2023 vaccine. As soon as we have the updated orders, we will be able to vaccinate at our clinics and mobile locations. Be sure to read additional details below about who we can vaccinate, as this has changed and we can no longer vaccinate everyone. 

You are eligible for the new vaccine if it has been at least 2 months since your last COVID vaccination.

Unsure when you got your last COVID vaccine? If you were vaccinated in Wisconsin, you can visit the Wisconsin Immunization Registry to get details. We have more information on our website about other ways to find your immunization record.

Where you can get vaccinated

Due to the end of the COVID emergency declaration, vaccines are no longer free and manufacturers are charging for them.

If you have health insurance

• Most insurers cover the cost of vaccination, so if you have insurance, your vaccine will likely still be free. Check with your insurance provider if you’re not sure.
• Most doctor’s offices and area pharmacies will offer the vaccine. Visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccinator near you.

If you don’t have health insurance

Public Health Madison & Dane County can vaccinate these groups of people for free:

• People who do not have health insurance
• People whose health insurance does not cover vaccinations
• Children (6 months to 18 years) who are on BadgerCare, or who are Native American or Alaskan Native

Where we offer vaccinations:

• We must wait until the Wisconsin Department of Health Services updates our vaccination orders before we can vaccinate with the fall 2023 vaccine.
• Once we have updated orders, we will have COVID vaccination at our South Park Street office on Mondays and at our East Washington office on Tuesdays. When we have updated orders and vaccine available, you can book an appointment online.
• Once we have updated orders, we will also have mobile clinics in the community throughout the week. See our map for a schedule. No appointment needed for mobile clinics.

Extra credit: Read more on COVID, flu, and RSV

• If you’re looking for a COVID cheat sheet with info about testing, what to do if you’re sick and more, we’ve got a blog for that too!
• If you need the latest info on flu and RSV immunizations, be sure to check out our blog.
• While you’re at it, subscribe to our blog so you’re up to date on the latest COVID, flu, and RSV news throughout the season.