On January 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued two MMWR articles describing changes in the 2025 immunization schedule for children, adolescents and adults. Changes related to older adults include new and updated recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV). These changes include:
The 2025 schedule includes a recommendation lowering the age-based requirement for pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50 years old.
In addition to previously recommended 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccination:
- ACIP recommends a second dose of the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine for adults aged 65 years and older, given six months apart (minimum interval: two months).
- ACIP recommends a second dose of the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 6 months to 64 years who are moderately or severely immunocompromised and may consider a third dose under shared decision-making with their health care providers.
For more information, please visit the CDC's website: CDC Immunization Schedule Changes.