All your questions about the new COVID shots, answered

New COVID-19 vaccines, which can help protect against the most common variants of the virus currently circulating, are now widely available.

Doctors say that some people may want to wait until October to get a shot, so they can get vaccinated against flu at the same time and have better protection this winter. But people who are at higher risk for getting seriously sick from COVID, including those who are pregnant, 65 and older or have underlying medical conditions, likely want to get vaccinated as soon as they can. Here’s what to know about the new shots.

Where can I get vaccinated?

There are now three updated vaccines available: one from Moderna, one from Pfizer and one from Novavax. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are both formulated to target KP.2, a strain of the virus that is very similar to the variants that are now spreading widely. The shot from Novavax is formulated to target JN.1, an earlier strain of the virus that is also close to the dominant strains.

You can find all three vaccines in pharmacies, doctors’ offices and other health centers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an online directory where you can locate pharmacies near you.

Can I get a shot for free?

Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance plans cover the cost of adult COVID vaccinations. Children can get the shots at no cost through the Vaccines for Children program. Community health clinics may offer free or low-cost shots to people who do not have insurance, or whose insurance plans do not cover the costs of vaccination.

I woke up feeling sick. Should I cancel my vaccine appointment?

If you wake up with a sore throat, sniffles or any other COVID symptoms, take an at-home test, said Dr. Donald Dumford, an infectious disease specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. If you’re positive, cancel your appointment and stay home. You can wait at least three months after you recover to get an updated vaccine, since the infection will give you a boost of antibodies. You should also reschedule your appointment if you have a fever, since the shot’s side effects may make you feel even worse. If you test negative for COVID and feel only mildly under the weather, you can go ahead and still get vaccinated, Dumford said.

Is there anything I can do to lessen the side effects?

Not everyone will feel side effects from their shot, and some will only experience minimal discomfort, such as pain at the injection site, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. But people often experience fevers, exhaustion and nausea after a COVID vaccination. These side effects generally go away within a few days.

People will often experience a similar response each time they get vaccinated, said Dr. Marc Sala, a co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center in Chicago. That means if you ran a fever or felt especially wiped out with your last shot, you will likely have those side effects again this time around.

The CDC does not recommend taking pain relievers before getting your shot. The medications may affect how your immune system responds to the vaccine. After you get the shot, though, feel free to take ibuprofen or acetaminophen if you have a fever or are in pain, Chin-Hong said. You should also make sure to stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.

You can also perform what Chin-Hong calls “the windmill” — swinging your arm in circles right after you get the shot — to potentially increase blood flow and reduce pain and swelling. Ice packs and cold washcloths can also ease an achy arm, he said.

Can I get a flu shot at the same time?

Yes, many doctors recommend doing so. Dr. Asish Jha, the former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, joked in 2022 that “God gave us two arms: one for the flu shot and the other one for the COVID shot.”

I’m pregnant. When should I get vaccinated?

Pregnant women are at a higher risk for getting seriously sick from COVID and so should get vaccinated as soon as possible, Chin-Hong said. They can receive the shot at any point during pregnancy, and vaccine antibodies will pass on to the fetus.

Can I drink after getting vaccinated?

You don’t want to suffer through a hangover on top of side effects from the vaccine, Chin-Hong said. But it’s fine to have a celebratory glass of wine or beer after your appointment. “Any reward that you can give yourself for getting a shot is good news in my perspective,” he said.