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Travel immunizations & resources.

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What vaccines do you need to travel?

The vaccines you need will depend on where you’re traveling and what you will be doing during your travels. Walgreens pharmacists are able to assist in helping you determine which vaccines you may need.

Which travel vaccines are available at Walgreens?

Travel vaccines Walgreens offers include: Yellow Fever, Meningitis, Polio, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Rabies*.

*Vaccines offered at Walgreens vary by state, age and health conditions. Talk to your local pharmacist about availability.

What other vaccines should I have before traveling?

It’s important to be up-to-date on routine vaccinations before traveling as well—like Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Tetanus, Flu and COVID-19.

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Vaccines for Travelers

Vaccines protect travelers from serious diseases. Depending on where you travel, you may come into contact with diseases that are rare in the United States, like yellow fever. Some vaccines may also be required for you to travel to certain places.

Getting vaccinated will help keep you safe and healthy while you’re traveling. It will also help make sure that you don’t bring any serious diseases home to your family, friends, and community.

On this page, you'll find answers to common questions about vaccines for travelers.

Which vaccines do I need before traveling?

The vaccines you need to get before traveling will depend on few things, including:

• Where you plan to travel . Some countries require proof of vaccination for certain diseases, like yellow fever or polio. And traveling in developing countries and rural areas may bring you into contact with more diseases, which means you might need more vaccines before you visit.
• Your health . If you’re pregnant or have an ongoing illness or weakened immune system, you may need additional vaccines.
• The vaccinations you’ve already had . It’s important to be up to date on your routine vaccinations. While diseases like measles are rare in the United States, they are more common in other countries. Learn more about routine vaccines for specific age groups .

How far in advance should I get vaccinated before traveling?

It’s important to get vaccinated at least 4 to 6 weeks before you travel. This will give the vaccines time to start working, so you’re protected while you’re traveling. It will also usually make sure there’s enough time for you to get vaccines that require more than 1 dose.

Where can I go to get travel vaccines?

Start by finding a:

• Travel clinic
• Health department
• Yellow fever vaccination clinic

Learn more about where you can get vaccines .

What resources can I use to prepare for my trip?

Here are some resources that may come in handy as you’re planning your trip:

• Visit CDC’s travel website to find out which vaccines you may need based on where you plan to travel, what you’ll be doing, and any health conditions you have.
• Download CDC's TravWell app to get recommended vaccines, a checklist to help prepare for travel, and a personalized packing list. You can also use it to store travel documents and keep a record of your medicines and vaccinations.
• Read the current travel notices to learn about any new disease outbreaks in or vaccine recommendations for the areas where you plan to travel.
• Visit the State Department’s website to learn about vaccinations, insurance, and medical emergencies while traveling.

Traveling with a child? Make sure they get the measles vaccine.

Measles is still common in some countries. Getting your child vaccinated will protect them from getting measles — and from bringing it back to the United States where it can spread to others. Learn more about the measles vaccine.

Find out which vaccines you need

CDC’s Adult Vaccine Quiz helps you create a list of vaccines you may need based on your age, health conditions, and more.

Take the quiz now !

Get Immunized

Getting immunized is easy. Vaccines and preventive antibodies are available at the doctor’s office or pharmacies — and are usually covered by insurance.

Find out how to get protected .

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Pricing for Travel Vaccines and Consultations at University Hospitals Travel Clinic

Consultations.

There is a fee for the pre-travel consultation, which is not covered by insurance and must be paid at the time of your appointment. Please familiarize yourself with our pricing structure:

• Pre-travel consult – $94 per person for the initial, in-person visit
• Pre-travel virtual consult – $94 per person for an initial, UH virtual visit via mobile device, tablet or computer*
• Extended visit – $139 per person for first-time travelers visiting three or more destinations or with complex health issues
• Round-the-world consult: $298 per person for travelers with six or more destinations

*If the first appointment is virtual, then there is no appointment fee for an in-person follow-up appointment for vaccinations. However, vaccination fees at this follow-up appointment will be charged.

Appointment fees are subject to change.

Please note that for virtual consultations, you must be physically located in Ohio for your appointment.

Vaccinations

Upon completion of your consultation, your clinician will determine which vaccinations are necessary for your trip. Depending on your insurance coverage, some vaccinations may be covered, but many travel-related vaccinations may not be covered as they are considered elective .

Typically, the following vaccinations are paid for by the patient:

• Polio (adults only)
• Japanese encephalitis
• Yellow fever

The cost of the self-pay vaccinations listed above can range from about $70 to $350 each. Additionally, a $35 administration fee is charged for the first vaccination, and $20 for each subsequent vaccination for vaccines not covered by insurance.

Non-elective vaccinations may be covered, depending on your insurance provider.

What services are offered at the Travel Immunization Clinic?

We offer travel immunizations (vaccines) for Orange County residents, pre-travel counseling, and prescriptions to prevent a malaria infection.

What do I need to know before my visit?  

• Services are for Orange County residents.
• Call (800) 914-4887 to make an appointment 4-6 weeks before your trip. You must make an appointment for us to see you. We do not take walk-ins.
• There is a charge for travel immunizations (vaccines). You must pay at the time of your visit. We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.  Travel immunizations (vaccines) are not covered by Medicare or Medi-Cal and may or may not be covered by your insurance.        

Note:   Please contact your insurance to check your coverage for travel vaccines and medications.  If needed, we can provide an itemized bill that you can give to your insurance for reimbursement.

How much do travel immunizations (vaccines) cost?

• There is a charge for travel immunizations (vaccines) administered by HCA Family Health Clinics. You must pay at the time of your visit. We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.
• Travel immunizations may be covered by your Medicare Part D – check with your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for covered immunizations.
• Medi-Cal does not cover travel immunizations, unless deemed medically necessary – check with your primary care provider.
• County of Orange HCA PHS Family Health Clinics are not contracted with Third Party commercial health plans; your Third Party health plan may or may not cover travel immunizations – see your primary care provider for services.

Download the Travel Clinic Price List  to see our prices. The document shows price information in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

What should I bring to my visit?

• Immunization Record (Yellow Card): If you have your immunization record (yellow card), please bring it with you to your appointment. This will help us know what shots you have received so we can avoid giving you unnecessary shots.
• Travel Itinerary: Please bring a list of the cities and countries that you will be visiting. Please include the dates you plan on staying in each country.
• Download and complete this “ Travel Immunization Questionnaire .” The questionnaire must be completed every time you come to the clinic for an appointment.
• Download this “ Medications that Suppress the Immune System ” list. It will help you answer the last question in the “Medication Section” of the questionnaire.
• Medications: Please bring a list of your current medications (over the counter and prescription). Please make sure to include the dosage of the medications.
• You must bring all required documents to your appointment. Your visit may be delayed if documents are not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should i get my travel immunizations (vaccines).

See your doctor or schedule an appointment with our Travel Immunization Clinic at least 4-6 weeks before your trip. It can take 2-3 weeks for the body to build up enough protection after getting the first dose of a vaccine. Some immunizations (vaccines) need to be given in more than one dose. You may need to come back to our clinic more than once to finish getting all the doses. 

What travel immunizations (vaccines) should I get before my trip?

The type of travel immunizations you need depends on the countries or places you are planning to visit. Please check with your doctor and visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel webpage for more information on travel health and immunizations (vaccines).  It is important that you are up to date with routine vaccines like the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (Tdap) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, and influenza (flu) vaccine before your trip.

What immunizations (vaccines) are offered at the Travel Immunization Clinic?

We try to offer the following vaccines, but there may be times when we do not have all vaccines available. Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis A&B (Twinrix) Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Meningitis MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) Polio Rabies Td/Tdap (Tetanus) Typhoid (oral and injectable) Yellow Fever

What if the immunization (vaccine) that I need is not available at the Travel Immunization Clinic?

Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel webpage for a list of travel immunization providers near you. 

What can I do to protect myself from malaria?

If you are traveling to an area where malaria is a risk, talk to a medical provider about getting a prescription to prevent a malaria infection. There are no immunizations (vaccines) for malaria. You can make an appointment to see a medical provider at the Travel Immunization Clinic. Call (800) 914-4887 to schedule a malaria prescription appointment at the clinic.

Other Resources

CDC Travelers’ Health – Information about travel health, safety, and immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  US State Department - Information about travel health and safety.

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Available travel vaccines

The following vaccinations are available for people travelling abroad.

Cholera vaccination

Vaccination against  cholera isn't routinely needed for most travellers.

But in some cases it may be recommended for aid workers and people likely to have limited access to medical services – for example, people working in refugee camps or after natural disasters.

Most cases of cholera are confined to regions of the world with poor sanitation and water hygiene, such as parts of:

• South America

The vaccine is usually given as a drink in 2 separate doses, taken 1 to 6 weeks apart.

Children aged 2 to 6 years old should have a third dose taken 1 to 6 weeks after the second dose.

You should make sure you have the final dose of this vaccine at least a week before you travel.

A single booster dose or full revaccination is usually recommended if you have previously been vaccinated against cholera and you're planning to travel to an area where the infection is common.

Diphtheria vaccination

A combined vaccination that protects against diphtheria , polio and tetanus is routinely given to all children in the UK.

You should make sure you and your children are up-to-date with your routine vaccinations before travelling.

Further booster doses are usually only recommended if you're going to visit parts of the world where diphtheria is widespread and your last vaccination dose was more than 10 years ago.

Diphtheria is more common in parts of the world where fewer people are vaccinated, such as:

• Central and Southeast Asia
• Eastern Europe

Additional doses of the vaccination are given in a single 3-in-1 Td/IPV (tetanus, diphtheria and polio) injection.

Hepatitis A vaccination

Vaccination against  hepatitis A is recommended if you're travelling to countries where there are poor levels of sanitation and hygiene, and hepatitis A is common.

Ask your GP, pharmacy or travel clinic if you should have the hepatitis A vaccine if you're travelling to:

• Sub-Saharan and North Africa
• the Middle East
• South and Central America

The vaccination against hepatitis A is usually given as a single initial injection, with a second dose 6 to 12 months later. Two doses should protect you for at least 25 years.

You should preferably have the initial dose at least 2 weeks before you leave, although it can be given up to the day of your departure if needed.

Jabs that offer combined protection against hepatitis A and hepatitis B or typhoid are also available if you're likely to also be at risk of these conditions.

Hepatitis B vaccination

Vaccination against  hepatitis B is recommended if you're travelling in parts of the world where hepatitis B is common, especially if you'll be doing activities that increase your risk of developing the infection.

Hepatitis B is spread through blood and body fluids. Things like having sex, injecting drugs or playing contact sports on your travels can increase your risk.

Anyone travelling for long periods or who's likely to need medical care while abroad is also at increased risk.

Hepatitis B is found worldwide, but it's more common in parts of:

• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Southern and Eastern Europe

The hepatitis B vaccination generally involves a course of 3 injections. Depending on how quickly you need protection, these may be spread over a period as long as 6 months or as short as 3 weeks.

A combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B jab is also available if you're likely to be at risk of both these conditions while travelling.

Japanese encephalitis vaccination

Vaccination against  Japanese encephalitis  is usually recommended if you're planning a long stay (usually at least a month) in a country where you could get the condition.

It's particularly important if:

• you're visiting during the rainy season or there's a year-round risk because of a tropical climate
• you're going to visit rural areas, such as rice fields or marshlands
• you'll be taking part in any activities that may increase your risk of becoming infected, such as cycling or camping

Japanese encephalitis is found throughout Asia and beyond. The area it's found in stretches from the western Pacific islands in the east, across to the borders of Pakistan in the west.

It's found as far north as Northeastern China and as far south as the islands of the Torres Strait and Cape York in Northeastern Australia.

Despite its name, Japanese encephalitis is now relatively rare in Japan because of mass immunisation programmes.

Find out more about risk areas on the Travel Health Pro website

Vaccination against Japanese encephalitis usually consists of 2 injections, with the second dose given 28 days after the first.

Ideally, you need to have the second dose a week before you leave.

Meningococcal meningitis vaccination

Vaccination against some types of meningococcal meningitis  is usually recommended if you're travelling to areas at risk and your planned activities put you at higher risk – for example, if you're a long-term traveller who has close contact with the local population.

High-risk areas for meningococcal meningitis include:

• parts of Africa
• Saudi Arabia during the mass gatherings of Hajj or Umrah

All travellers to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages are required to show proof of vaccination.

If travelling to a high-risk area, you should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis with a MenACWY vaccine , also known as the quadrivalent meningococcal meningitis vaccine.

This is a single injection that should be given 2 to 3 weeks before you travel. Babies under a year old need 2 injections.

You should have the MenACWY vaccine before travelling to high-risk areas, even if you had the  meningitis C vaccine as a child.

Read more about the  meningococcal meningitis vaccines .

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination

The MMR vaccine that protects against measles ,  mumps and  rubella is routinely given to all children in the UK. 

You should make sure you and your children are up-to-date with routine vaccinations, including MMR, before travelling.

If you haven't been fully vaccinated against these conditions or you're not already immune, you should ask about MMR vaccination before you travel.

The MMR vaccine is given as 2 injections. These are usually given when a child is 3 years and 4 months old.

But if vaccination has been missed previously, adults can have the doses 1 month apart, and children can have them 3 months apart if necessary.

Read more about the MMR vaccine .

Polio vaccination

A combined vaccination that protects against diphtheria,  polio and tetanus is routinely given to all children in the UK.

Further booster doses are usually only recommended if you're going to visit parts of the world where polio is, or has recently been, present and your last vaccination dose was more than 10 years ago.

Currently the condition is most common in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but it's also a risk in other regions of the world.

Read more about the  Td/IPV (3-in-1) vaccine .

Rabies vaccination

Vaccination against rabies is advised if you're travelling to an area where you could get rabies, particularly if:

• you're staying for a month or more
• there's unlikely to be quick access to appropriate medical care
• you plan to do activities that could put you at increased risk of exposure to rabies, such as cycling or running

Rabies can be found in many parts of the world. GOV.UK provides a detailed list of countries that have rabies in domestic animals or wildlife .

Vaccination involves a course of 3 injections before you travel, usually given over a period of 28 days.

If you're bitten, licked or scratched by an animal in a country where rabies is a problem, further doses of rabies vaccine (with or without a special anti-rabies injection given around the wound) may be required as emergency treatment.

Find out more about the rabies vaccine

GOV.UK: Rabies risks for travellers

Tetanus vaccination

A combined vaccination that protects against diphtheria, polio and tetanus is routinely given to all children in the UK.

Further booster doses are usually only recommended if:

• you're travelling to areas where access to medical services is likely to be limited and your last vaccination dose was more than 10 years ago
• you've not had two booster doses

Read more about the Td/IPV (3-in-1) vaccine .

Tick-borne encephalitis vaccination

Vaccination against  tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)  is usually recommended for anyone who plans to live or work in a high-risk area, or hike and camp in these areas during late spring or summer.

The ticks that cause TBE are mainly found in forested areas of central, eastern and northern Europe, although at-risk areas also include eastern Russia and some countries in east Asia, including some regions of China and Japan.

The vaccination requires a course of 3 injections for full protection. The second dose is given 1 to 3 months after the first and provides immunity for about a year.

A third dose, given 5 to 12 months after the second, provides immunity for up to 3 years.

The course can sometimes be accelerated if necessary. This involves 2 doses being given 2 weeks apart.

Booster doses of the vaccine are recommended every 3 years, if necessary.

Tuberculosis (TB) vaccination

The BCG vaccine (which stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine) protects against tuberculosis , which is also known as TB.

The BCG vaccine isn't given as part of the routine NHS vaccination schedule. It's given on the NHS only when a child or adult is thought to have an increased risk of coming into contact with TB.

When preparing for travel abroad, the BCG vaccine is recommended for any unvaccinated people under 16 who'll be living or working with friends, family or local people for more than 3 months in a country where TB is common or the risk of multi-drug resistant TB is high.

The BCG vaccine is given as a single injection.

Areas of the world where the risk of TB is high enough to recommend BCG vaccination for previously unvaccinated travellers include:

• parts of South and Southeast Asia

Read more about the BCG vaccine .

Typhoid vaccination

Vaccination against typhoid fever is recommended if you're travelling to parts of the world where the condition is common, particularly if you'll: 

• have frequent or prolonged exposure to conditions where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor
• be staying or working with local people

High-risk areas include:

• parts of South and Central America

Two main vaccines are available for typhoid fever in the UK. One is given as a single injection, and the other is given as 3 capsules to take on alternate days.

It's also possible to have a combined hepatitis A and typhoid jab.

Ideally, the typhoid vaccine should be given at least 1 month before you travel, but it can be given closer to your travel date if necessary.

Booster vaccinations are recommended every 3 years if you continue to be at risk of infection.

Read more about the typhoid vaccine .

Yellow fever vaccination

Vaccination against yellow fever is advised if you're travelling to areas where there's a risk of getting yellow fever.

Some countries require a proof of vaccination certificate before they let you enter the country.

Yellow fever occurs in some areas of tropical Africa and Central and South America. More information about yellow fever and areas where it's found is available on Travel Health Pro .

A single dose of the yellow fever vaccine is thought to provide lifelong protection. For most people, a booster dose is no longer recommended.

You must have a yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before you travel. You will also need to complete a yellow fever vaccination checklist to make sure you can have the vaccine.

Find out more about the yellow fever vaccination checklist on the Travel Health Pro website

You should be issued with an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis when you have the vaccine. This certificate is valid for life.

Some people cannot have the yellow fever vaccine.

Read more about the  yellow fever vaccine and who can have it .

When to get further advice

Speak to your GP before having any vaccinations if:

• you're planning to get pregnant
• you're pregnant
• you're breastfeeding
• you have an immune deficiency
• you have any allergies

Page last reviewed: 16 March 2023 Next review due: 16 March 2026

Whilst a small number of travel health vaccinations are available on the NHS, many are not. You may be surprised to learn that MASTA will cost you no more than your average GP for private travel health vaccinations. All vaccine prices are shown per dose unless otherwise stated, some may be given as a course of two or more doses.

Wellness Telephone Consultation (Per Person)

£10.00, travel telephone consultation (per person), £25.00, face to face consultation (per person), £80.00, cholera (oral), £76.00, combined diphtheria, tetanus and polio, £41.00, combined diphtheria, tetanus, polio and pertussis, £95.00, combined hepatitis a + b, £90.00, combined hepatitis a + b (paediatric), £60.00, combined mmr, £55.00, covid-19 vaccine, £75.00, hepatitis a, £72.00, hepatitis a (paediatric), £70.00, hepatitis b, hepatitis b (paediatric), £45.00, £180.00, £16.99, japanese encephalitis, £105.00, meningitis acwy, meningitis b, £110.00, pneumococcal pneumonia, £220.00, tick encephalitis, tick encephalitis (junior), £65.00, typhoid (oral), yellow fever, atovaquone/proguanil 12 tablets, £37.80, avloclor/paludrine 98/14 tablets, £22.00, chloroquine 20 tablets, £14.50, doxycycline 50 tablets, £32.50, malarone 12 tablets, £48.00, malarone paediatric 12 tablets, mefloquine (lariam) 8 tablets, £33.60, blood group, hepatitis a antibodies, hepatitis b antibodies, £54.00, hepatitis b core antibodies, £63.00, hepatitis b surface antigen, £52.00, hepatitis c antibody test, hiv antibodies, £64.00, mmr antibodies (available separately), £111.00, nuffield health bloods, £20.00, varicella antibodies, bcg scar check, mantoux test, quantiferon - tb gold, £104.00, £50.00.

Prices are subject to change without prior notification

Cancellation and No-Show Policy

£25 charge per person applies for non attendance, or if a cancellation is not received up to 48 hours before the appointment

Refunds and Returns Policy

We cannot offer refunds or accept returns on healthcare items supplied by the clinic. (Your statutory rights are unaffected).

Retail Products and Malarial Tablets cannot be returned unless the product/malarial tablet is faulty.

If you consider the product/malarial tablet sold to you was medically unsuitable for you at the time of your appointment, please Contact Us.

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Routine Vaccines

It’s important to be up to date on recommended routine vaccines prior to travel, including Flu, RSV and COVID-19.

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See the full list of  Travel Health Notices , including:

Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions

• New   Chikungunya in Maldives May 28, 2024
• Global Polio May 23, 2024
• Diphtheria in Guinea April 23, 2024

Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions

• Oropouche Fever in the Americas June 05, 2024
• Updated   Global Measles May 28, 2024
• New   Meningococcal Disease in Saudi Arabia - Vaccine Requirements for Travel During the Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimages May 20, 2024

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• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

COVID-19, also called coronavirus disease 2019, is an illness caused by a virus. The virus is called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or more commonly, SARS-CoV-2. It started spreading at the end of 2019 and became a pandemic disease in 2020.

• Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses. These viruses cause illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads most commonly through the air in tiny droplets of fluid between people in close contact. Many people with COVID-19 have no symptoms or mild illness. But for older adults and people with certain medical conditions, COVID-19 can lead to the need for care in the hospital or death.

Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent serious illness, the need for hospital care due to COVID-19 and death from COVID-19 . Other ways that may help prevent the spread of this coronavirus includes good indoor air flow, physical distancing, wearing a mask in the right setting and good hygiene.

Medicine can limit the seriousness of the viral infection. Most people recover without long-term effects, but some people have symptoms that continue for months.

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Typical COVID-19 symptoms often show up 2 to 14 days after contact with the virus.

Symptoms can include:

• Shortness of breath.
• Loss of taste or smell.
• Extreme tiredness, called fatigue.
• Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach, vomiting or loose stools, called diarrhea.
• Pain, such as headaches and body or muscle aches.
• Fever or chills.
• Cold-like symptoms such as congestion, runny nose or sore throat.

People may only have a few symptoms or none. People who have no symptoms but test positive for COVID-19 are called asymptomatic. For example, many children who test positive don't have symptoms of COVID-19 illness. People who go on to have symptoms are considered presymptomatic. Both groups can still spread COVID-19 to others.

Some people may have symptoms that get worse about 7 to 14 days after symptoms start.

Most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. But COVID-19 can cause serious medical complications and lead to death. Older adults or people who already have medical conditions are at greater risk of serious illness.

COVID-19 may be a mild, moderate, severe or critical illness.

• In broad terms, mild COVID-19 doesn't affect the ability of the lungs to get oxygen to the body.
• In moderate COVID-19 illness, the lungs also work properly but there are signs that the infection is deep in the lungs.
• Severe COVID-19 means that the lungs don't work correctly, and the person needs oxygen and other medical help in the hospital.
• Critical COVID-19 illness means the lung and breathing system, called the respiratory system, has failed and there is damage throughout the body.

Rarely, people who catch the coronavirus can develop a group of symptoms linked to inflamed organs or tissues. The illness is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome. When children have this illness, it is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, shortened to MIS -C. In adults, the name is MIS -A.

When to see a doctor

Contact a healthcare professional if you test positive for COVID-19 . If you have symptoms and need to test for COVID-19 , or you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19 , a healthcare professional can help.

People who are at high risk of serious illness may get medicine to block the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the body. Or your healthcare team may plan regular checks to monitor your health.

Get emergency help right away for any of these symptoms:

• Can't catch your breath or have problems breathing.
• Skin, lips or nail beds that are pale, gray or blue.
• New confusion.
• Trouble staying awake or waking up.
• Chest pain or pressure that is constant.

This list doesn't include every emergency symptom. If you or a person you're taking care of has symptoms that worry you, get help. Let the healthcare team know about a positive test for COVID-19 or symptoms of the illness.

More Information

• COVID-19 vs. flu: Similarities and differences
• COVID-19, cold, allergies and the flu
• Unusual symptoms of coronavirus

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COVID-19 is caused by infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, also called SARS-CoV-2.

The coronavirus spreads mainly from person to person, even from someone who is infected but has no symptoms. When people with COVID-19 cough, sneeze, breathe, sing or talk, their breath may be infected with the COVID-19 virus.

The coronavirus carried by a person's breath can land directly on the face of a nearby person, after a sneeze or cough, for example. The droplets or particles the infected person breathes out could possibly be breathed in by other people if they are close together or in areas with low air flow. And a person may touch a surface that has respiratory droplets and then touch their face with hands that have the coronavirus on them.

It's possible to get COVID-19 more than once.

• Over time, the body's defense against the COVID-19 virus can fade.
• A person may be exposed to so much of the virus that it breaks through their immune defense.
• As a virus infects a group of people, the virus copies itself. During this process, the genetic code can randomly change in each copy. The changes are called mutations. If the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 changes in ways that make previous infections or vaccination less effective at preventing infection, people can get sick again.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect some pets. Cats, dogs, hamsters and ferrets have caught this coronavirus and had symptoms. It's rare for a person to get COVID-19 from a pet.

Risk factors

The main risk factors for COVID-19 are:

• If someone you live with has COVID-19 .
• If you spend time in places with poor air flow and a higher number of people when the virus is spreading.
• If you spend more than 30 minutes in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 .

Many factors affect your risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 . How long you are in contact, if the space has good air flow and your activities all affect the risk. Also, if you or others wear masks, if someone has COVID-19 symptoms and how close you are affects your risk. Close contact includes sitting and talking next to one another, for example, or sharing a car or bedroom.

It seems to be rare for people to catch the virus that causes COVID-19 from an infected surface. While the virus is shed in waste, called stool, COVID-19 infection from places such as a public bathroom is not common.

Serious COVID-19 illness risk factors

Some people are at a higher risk of serious COVID-19 illness than others. This includes people age 65 and older as well as babies younger than 6 months. Those age groups have the highest risk of needing hospital care for COVID-19 .

Not every risk factor for serious COVID-19 illness is known. People of all ages who have no other medical issues have needed hospital care for COVID-19 .

Known risk factors for serious illness include people who have not gotten a COVID-19 vaccine. Serious illness also is a higher risk for people who have:

• Sickle cell disease or thalassemia.
• Serious heart diseases and possibly high blood pressure.
• Chronic kidney, liver or lung diseases.

People with dementia or Alzheimer's also are at higher risk, as are people with brain and nervous system conditions such as stroke. Smoking increases the risk of serious COVID-19 illness. And people with a body mass index in the overweight category or obese category may have a higher risk as well.

Other medical conditions that may raise the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 include:

• Cancer or a history of cancer.
• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
• Weakened immune system from solid organ transplants or bone marrow transplants, some medicines, or HIV .

This list is not complete. Factors linked to a health issue may raise the risk of serious COVID-19 illness too. Examples are a medical condition where people live in a group home, or lack of access to medical care. Also, people with more than one health issue, or people of older age who also have health issues have a higher chance of severe illness.

Related information

• COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms? - Related information COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?

Complications

Complications of COVID-19 include long-term loss of taste and smell, skin rashes, and sores. The illness can cause trouble breathing or pneumonia. Medical issues a person already manages may get worse.

Complications of severe COVID-19 illness can include:

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome, when the body's organs do not get enough oxygen.
• Shock caused by the infection or heart problems.
• Overreaction of the immune system, called the inflammatory response.
• Blood clots.
• Kidney injury.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome

After a COVID-19 infection, some people report that symptoms continue for months, or they develop new symptoms. This syndrome has often been called long COVID, or post- COVID-19 . You might hear it called long haul COVID-19 , post-COVID conditions or PASC. That's short for post-acute sequelae of SARS -CoV-2.

Other infections, such as the flu and polio, can lead to long-term illness. But the virus that causes COVID-19 has only been studied since it began to spread in 2019. So, research into the specific effects of long-term COVID-19 symptoms continues.

Researchers do think that post- COVID-19 syndrome can happen after an illness of any severity.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine may help prevent post- COVID-19 syndrome.

• Long-term effects of COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a COVID-19 vaccine for everyone age 6 months and older. The COVID-19 vaccine can lower the risk of death or serious illness caused by COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are:

2023-2024 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine is available for people age 6 months and older.

Among people with a typical immune system:

• Children age 6 months up to age 4 years are up to date after three doses of a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• People age 5 and older are up to date after one Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• For people who have not had a 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccination, the CDC recommends getting an additional shot of that updated vaccine.

2023-2024 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine is available for people age 6 months and older.

• Children ages 6 months up to age 4 are up to date if they've had two doses of a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
• People age 5 and older are up to date with one Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

2023-2024 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine is available for people age 12 years and older.

• People age 12 years and older are up to date if they've had two doses of a Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.

In general, people age 5 and older with typical immune systems can get any vaccine approved or authorized for their age. They usually don't need to get the same vaccine each time.

Some people should get all their vaccine doses from the same vaccine maker, including:

• Children ages 6 months to 4 years.
• People age 5 years and older with weakened immune systems.
• People age 12 and older who have had one shot of the Novavax vaccine should get the second Novavax shot in the two-dose series.

Talk to your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the vaccines for you or your child. Your healthcare team can help you if:

• The vaccine you or your child got earlier isn't available.
• You don't know which vaccine you or your child received.
• You or your child started a vaccine series but couldn't finish it due to side effects.

People with weakened immune systems

Your healthcare team may suggest added doses of COVID-19 vaccine if you have a moderately or seriously weakened immune system. The FDA has also authorized the monoclonal antibody pemivibart (Pemgarda) to prevent COVID-19 in some people with weakened immune systems.

Control the spread of infection

In addition to vaccination, there are other ways to stop the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 .

If you are at a higher risk of serious illness, talk to your healthcare professional about how best to protect yourself. Know what to do if you get sick so you can quickly start treatment.

If you feel ill or have COVID-19 , stay home and away from others, including pets, if possible. Avoid sharing household items such as dishes or towels if you're sick.

In general, make it a habit to:

• Test for COVID-19 . If you have symptoms of COVID-19 test for the infection. Or test five days after you came in contact with the virus.
• Help from afar. Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick or has symptoms, if possible.
• Wash your hands. Wash your hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Then wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces. For example, clean doorknobs, light switches, electronics and counters regularly.

Try to spread out in crowded public areas, especially in places with poor airflow. This is important if you have a higher risk of serious illness.

The CDC recommends that people wear a mask in indoor public spaces if you're in an area with a high number of people with COVID-19 in the hospital. They suggest wearing the most protective mask possible that you'll wear regularly, that fits well and is comfortable.

• COVID-19 vaccines: Get the facts - Related information COVID-19 vaccines: Get the facts
• Comparing the differences between COVID-19 vaccines - Related information Comparing the differences between COVID-19 vaccines
• Different types of COVID-19 vaccines: How they work - Related information Different types of COVID-19 vaccines: How they work
• Debunking COVID-19 myths - Related information Debunking COVID-19 myths

Travel and COVID-19

Travel brings people together from areas where illnesses may be at higher levels. Masks can help slow the spread of respiratory diseases in general, including COVID-19 . Masks help the most in places with low air flow and where you are in close contact with other people. Also, masks can help if the places you travel to or through have a high level of illness.

Masking is especially important if you or a companion have a high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 .

• COVID-19 travel advice
• COVID-19 vaccines
• COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What you need to know
• Debunking coronavirus myths
• Different COVID-19 vaccines
• Fight coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission at home
• Herd immunity and coronavirus
• How well do face masks protect against COVID-19?
• Safe outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Safety tips for attending school during COVID-19
• COVID-19 and vitamin D
• COVID-19: How can I protect myself?
• Mayo Clinic Minute: How dirty are common surfaces?
• Mayo Clinic Minute: You're washing your hands all wrong
• Goldman L, et al., eds. COVID-19: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, community prevention, and prognosis. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 17, 2023.
• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment guidelines. National Institutes of Health. https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/. Accessed Dec. 18, 2023.
• AskMayoExpert. COVID-19: Testing, symptoms. Mayo Clinic; Nov. 2, 2023.
• Symptoms of COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html. Accessed Dec. 20, 2023.
• AskMayoExpert. COVID-19: Outpatient management. Mayo Clinic; Oct. 10, 2023.
• Morris SB, et al. Case series of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection — United Kingdom and United States, March-August 2020. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2020;69:1450. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6940e1external icon.
• COVID-19 testing: What you need to know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html. Accessed Dec. 20, 2023.
• SARS-CoV-2 in animals. American Veterinary Medical Association. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/one-health/covid-19/sars-cov-2-animals-including-pets. Accessed Jan. 17, 2024.
• Understanding exposure risk. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/risks-exposure.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2024.
• People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2024.
• Factors that affect your risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/risks-getting-very-sick.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2024.
• Regan JJ, et al. Use of Updated COVID-19 Vaccines 2023-2024 Formula for Persons Aged ≥6 Months: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, September 2023. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2023; 72:1140–1146. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7242e1.
• Long COVID or post-COVID conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2024.
• Stay up to date with your vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2024.
• Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines currently approved or authorized in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html#CoV-19-vaccination. Accessed Jan. 10, 2024.
• Use and care of masks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2024.
• How to protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2024.
• People who are immunocompromised. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-who-are-immunocompromised.html. Accessed Jan. 10, 2024.
• Masking during travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/masks. Accessed Jan. 10, 2024.
• AskMayoExpert. COVID-19: Testing. Mayo Clinic. 2023.
• COVID-19 test basics. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/covid-19-test-basics. Accessed Jan. 11, 2024.
• At-home COVID-19 antigen tests — Take steps to reduce your risk of false negative results: FDA safety communication. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/home-covid-19-antigen-tests-take-steps-reduce-your-risk-false-negative-results-fda-safety. Accessed Jan. 11, 2024.
• Interim clinical considerations for COVID-19 treatment in outpatients. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/outpatient-treatment-overview.html. Accessed Jan. 11, 2024.
• Know your treatment options for COVID-19. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/know-your-treatment-options-covid-19. Accessed Jan. 11, 2024.
• AskMayoExpert. COVID:19 Drug regimens and other treatment options. Mayo Clinic. 2023.
• Preventing spread of respiratory viruses when you're sick. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html. Accessed March 5, 2024.
• AskMayoExpert. COVID-19: Quarantine and isolation. Mayo Clinic. 2023.
• COVID-19 resource and information guide. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/NAMI-HelpLine/COVID-19-Information-and-Resources/COVID-19-Resource-and-Information-Guide. Accessed Jan. 11, 2024.
• COVID-19 overview and infection prevention and control priorities in non-U.S. healthcare settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/non-us-settings/overview/index.html. Accessed Jan. 16, 2024.
• Kim AY, et al. COVID-19: Management in hospitalized adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 17, 2024.
• O'Horo JC, et al. Outcomes of COVID-19 with the Mayo Clinic Model of Care and Research. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2021; doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.12.006.
• At-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests. Accessed Jan. 22, 2024.
• Emergency use authorizations for drugs and non-vaccine biological products. U.S. Food and Drug Association. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/emergency-preparedness-drugs/emergency-use-authorizations-drugs-and-non-vaccine-biological-products. Accessed March 25, 2024.
• Coronavirus infection by race
• COVID-19 and pets
• COVID-19 and your mental health
• COVID-19 drugs: Are there any that work?
• COVID-19 in babies and children
• COVID-19 variant
• COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
• How do COVID-19 antibody tests differ from diagnostic tests?
• Is hydroxychloroquine a treatment for COVID-19?
• Pregnancy and COVID-19
• Sex and COVID-19
• Treating COVID-19 at home

Associated Procedures

• Convalescent plasma therapy
• COVID-19 antibody testing
• COVID-19 tests
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

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• Can you get COVID-19 and the flu at the same time? A Mayo Clinic expert weighs in Oct. 16, 2023, 04:30 p.m. CDT
• At-home COVID-19 tests: A Mayo Clinic expert answers questions on expiration dates and the new variants Sept. 18, 2023, 04:00 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic expert answers questions about the new COVID-19 vaccine Sept. 13, 2023, 04:15 p.m. CDT
• Study identifies risk factors for long-haul COVID disease in adults Sept. 13, 2023, 02:00 p.m. CDT
• Mayo researchers find vaccine may reduce severity of long-haul COVID symptoms Aug. 23, 2023, 04:34 p.m. CDT
• Corticosteroids lower the likelihood of in-hospital mortality from COVID-19 Aug. 04, 2023, 03:00 p.m. CDT
• COVID-19 vaccine administration simplified April 21, 2023, 07:00 p.m. CDT
• Science Saturday: COVID-19 -- the pandemic that's forever changed laboratory testing April 15, 2023, 11:00 a.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic expert talks about the new omicron variant April 13, 2023, 02:13 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic to ease universal face mask requirement April 04, 2023, 03:05 p.m. CDT
• 'Deaths of Despair' contribute to 17% rise in Minnesota's death rate during COVID-19 pandemic March 13, 2023, 12:00 p.m. CDT
• Rising cases of COVID-19 variant, XBB.1.5 Jan. 09, 2023, 05:15 p.m. CDT
• Bivalent COVID-19 booster approved for children 6 months and older Dec. 09, 2022, 09:33 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic Minute: How to self-care at home when you have COVID-19 Dec. 06, 2022, 05:00 p.m. CDT
• Halloween safety tips from a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert Oct. 27, 2022, 02:00 p.m. CDT
• COVID-19, RSV and flu--season of respiratory infections Oct. 26, 2022, 04:30 p.m. CDT
• COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccines for kids 5-11 approved, Mayo Clinic awaits supply Oct. 13, 2022, 04:54 p.m. CDT
• Questions answered about the COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccines Oct. 12, 2022, 03:30 p.m. CDT
• Will the COVID-19 booster be like an annual flu shot? Sept. 12, 2022, 04:30 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic Q and A: Who needs back-to-school COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters? Sept. 04, 2022, 11:00 a.m. CDT
• Q&A podcast: Updated COVID-19 boosters target omicron variants Sept. 02, 2022, 12:30 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Back-to-school COVID-19 vaccinations for kids Aug. 15, 2022, 03:15 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic research shows bebtelovimab to be a reliable option for treating COVID-19 in era of BA.2, other subvariants Aug. 15, 2022, 02:09 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic Q and A: New variants of COVID-19 Aug. 04, 2022, 12:30 p.m. CDT
• COVID-19 variant BA.5 is dominant strain; BA.2.75 is being monitored July 28, 2022, 02:30 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic researchers pinpoint genetic variations that might sway course of COVID-19 July 25, 2022, 02:00 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: BA.5 omicron variant fueling latest COVID-19 surge July 15, 2022, 12:00 p.m. CDT
• What you need to know about the BA.5 omicron variant July 14, 2022, 06:41 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: The importance of COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 July 06, 2022, 01:00 p.m. CDT
• COVID-19 vaccination for kids age 5 and younger starting the week of July 4 at most Mayo sites July 01, 2022, 04:00 p.m. CDT
• Patients treated with monoclonal antibodies during COVID-19 delta surge had low rates of severe disease, Mayo Clinic study finds June 27, 2022, 03:00 p.m. CDT
• Long COVID and the digestive system: Mayo Clinic expert describes common symptoms June 21, 2022, 02:43 p.m. CDT
• Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 update June 17, 2022, 01:08 p.m. CDT
• Study finds few COVID-19 patients get rebound symptoms after Paxlovid treatment June 14, 2022, 10:06 a.m. CDT
• Symptoms & causes
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• COVID-19 vaccines: Get the facts
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• Post-COVID Recovery

News on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Learn the latest medical news about COVID-19 on Mayo Clinic News Network.

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Meningococcal Vaccination

Pronounced (muh-nin-jeh-KOK-ul)

Vaccines can help prevent meningococcal disease , which is any type of illness caused by  Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. There are 3 types of meningococcal vaccines available in the United States:

• Meningococcal conjugate or MenACWY vaccines (Menveo ®  and MenQuadfi ® )
• Serogroup B meningococcal or MenB vaccines (Bexsero ® and Trumenba ® )
• Pentavalent meningococcal or MenABCWY vaccine (Penbraya TM )

All 11 to 12 year olds should get a MenACWY vaccine, with a booster dose at 16 years old. Teens and young adults (16 through 23 years old) also may get a MenB vaccine. Those who are getting MenACWY and MenB vaccines at the same visit may instead get a MenABCWY vaccine. CDC also recommends meningococcal vaccination for other children and adults who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease.

Talk with your or your child’s doctor if you have questions about meningococcal vaccines.

CDC recommends routine  MenACWY vaccination  for:

• All preteens and teens at 11 to 12 years old with a booster dose at 16 years old
• Children and adults at increased risk for meningococcal disease

CDC recommends routine  MenB vaccination  for:

• People 10 years or older at increased risk for meningococcal disease

CDC recommends MenABCWY vaccination as an option for:

• People 10 years or older who are getting MenACWY and MenB vaccines at the same visit.
• CDC’s Meningitis Website
• CDC’s Meningococcal Disease Website
• CDC’s Sepsis Website
• MenACWY ( English / Other Languages )
• MenB ( English / Other Languages )
• National Meningitis Association
• Photos of Meningococcal Bacteria and People Affected by Meningococcal Disease Warning: Some of these photos are graphic.
• Meningitis=infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord
• Meningococcemia= meningococcal bloodstream infection
• Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine=MPSV4
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine=MenACWY

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
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• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

Saving money with the prescription drug law

A new prescription drug law that went into effect January 1, 2023, will help save money for people with Medicare. This law improves access to affordable treatments and strengthens the Medicare program. Here’s what the law means for you:

More vaccines covered

People with Medicare Part D drug coverage now pay nothing out-of-pocket for even more vaccines. Your Part D plan won't charge you a copayment or apply a deductible for vaccines that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends, including the vaccines for shingles, whooping cough, and more.

Lower costs for insulin

Part D insulin costs

Your Medicare drug plan can't charge you more than $35 for a one-month supply of each Part D-covered insulin, and you don’t have to pay a deductible. You’ll pay $35 (or less) for a one-month supply of each Part D-covered insulin product, even if you get Extra Help to lower your prescription drug costs.

If you get a 3-month supply of insulin, your costs can’t be more than $105 ($35 for each month’s supply).

Other questions about insulin coverage under Part D?

Part B insulin costs

If you use an insulin pump that’s covered under Part B’s durable medical equipment benefit, or you get your covered insulin through a Medicare Advantage Plan, your cost for a month’s supply of Part B-covered insulin can’t be more than $35. The Part B deductible won’t apply. If you have Part B and Medicare Supplement Insurance ( Medigap ) that pays your Part B coinsurance, your plan should cover the $35 (or less) cost for insulin. 

If you get a 3-month supply of insulin, you'll generally pay no more than $105, because your costs can’t be more than $35 for each month’s supply of each covered insulin. 

Get more information about this new insulin benefit.  

Learn more about insulin costs.

Lower out-of-pocket drug costs

• You might pay a lower coinsurance amount for certain drugs and biologicals covered by Part B, if their prices have increased higher than the rate of inflation. The specific drugs and potential savings change every quarter.
• If you have drug costs high enough to reach the catastrophic coverage phase in your Medicare drug coverage , you won’t have to pay a copayment or coinsurance, starting in 2024.
• Extra Help affording prescription drug coverage (the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program ) will expand to cover more drug costs for people with limited resources who earn less than 150% of the federal poverty level, starting in 2024. People who qualify for Extra Help generally will pay no more than $4.50 for each generic drug and $11.20 for each brand-name drug.
• Your yearly Part D out-of-pocket costs will be capped at $2,000, starting in 2025. You’ll also have the option to pay out-of-pocket costs in monthly amounts over the plan year, instead of when they happen.
• If the price of a drug covered by Part B (Medical Insurance) increased faster than the rate of inflation, you might pay less than 20% coinsurance for that drug. The specific drugs that are impacted and the potential savings may change every quarter.  Get more information about Part B-covered drugs .

Medicare will negotiate to get you lower drug prices

For the first time, Medicare will be able to negotiate directly with manufacturers for the price of certain high-spending brand-name Medicare Part B and Part D drugs that don’t have competition.

• Fiasp; Fiasp FlexTouch; Fiasp PenFill; NovoLog; NovoLog FlexPen; NovoLog PenFill
• Negotiated prices for these first 10 drugs will be effective in 2026.
• 15 Part D drugs in 2025 (effective in 2027).
• 15 Part B and Part D drugs in 2026 (effective in 2028).
• 20 Part B and Part D drugs in 2027 (effective in 2029).
• 20 Part B and Part D drugs in 2028 and every year after.
• Manufacturers that don’t follow the negotiation requirements will have to pay a tax, and will have to pay penalties if they don’t fulfill other manufacturer requirements.

More From Forbes

How a new covid-19 antibody could contribute to advanced vaccine development.

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Booster dose vaccination to protect against omicron variant coronavirus. Covid-19 vaccination ... [+] concept background.

In the ongoing Omicron era, a new Covid-19 antibody could renew optimism for urgently required SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal therapies. Over the last three years, various versions of SARS-CoV-2 have mutated to bypass the neutralizing effects of monoclonal antibodies. Whenever new treatments received approval from the FDA, new variants emerged that could avoid these treatments, creating a game of cat and mouse between the virus and researchers looking for new antibody treatments.

A new antibody, 1301B7, was developed by extracting convalescent sera from an individual infected with an earlier strain of Omicron, as described by Dr. Michael Piepenbrink and colleagues at the University of Alabama. The antibody exhibits potent neutralizing activity against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the latest Omicron subvariants XBB.1.5 and JN.1, and against the sister virus SARS-CoV-1. What follows are the key findings for the promising monoclonal treatment.

The greatest challenge facing antibody developers is the constant mutation of key targeted amino acids. The receptor binding domain and N-terminal domain of the spike protein are common binding sites for antibodies and are common regions of mutation in variants.

1301B7 engages in multiple hydrogen bonds and salt bridges with the receptor-binding domain. The antibody's heavy chain contacts several critical residues found in Omicron variants, including those involved in ACE2 binding (e.g., R403, Y453, H505). Though the mutation in N417K results in a 20-fold decrease in affinity, 1301B7 maintains its binding to the mutated receptor-binding domain.

FIGURE 1: Cryo-EM depiction of the antibody (orange) contacting several crucial receptor-binding ... [+] domain (blue) sites.

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A significant contrast between this antibody and previous ones is its distinct binding mechanism, as shown by the cryo-EM structure of 1301B7 attached to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The unique feature of 1301B7 is that it binds solely through its heavy chain complementarity-determining regions without any direct involvement from the light chain.

FIGURE 2: Diagram depicting the difference between heavy and light chains.

In transgenic mice expressing human ACE2, the XBB.1.5 or JN.1 subvariants of the Omicron variant, when treated preventatively with 1301B7 at doses of 2 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg, showed a significant decrease in viral loads in the nasal turbinates and lungs compared to the isotype control.

At four days after infection, mice given 20 mg/kg of 1301B7 showed no signs of virus in the lungs when exposed to XBB.1.5. Only 1 out of 4 mice had any virus in the lungs when exposed to JN.1. These findings illustrate the solid preventive effect of 1301B7 against the most recent SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants.

The authors propose that 1301B7's wide range of specificity comes from its strong binding and the ability of its complementarity-determining regions to adapt to mutational variations in the receptor-binding domain. This is backed by the finding that 1301B7 utilizes a VH1-69 heavy chain, which has been demonstrated to be produced in response to diverse viruses, such as influenza, hepatitis, HIV-1, and SARS-CoV-2.

The research emphasizes 1301B7's promise as a strong contender for creating advanced vaccines and treatments for SARS-CoV-2 and its changing versions. Its distinct structural characteristics offer additional enhancement and refinement possibilities using protein—and glycan-focused approaches.

However, several other relevant aspects need to be addressed, which could be pertinent.

1301B7 showed extensive neutralization activity against the tested variants; however, the study did not investigate whether particular mutations in the receptor-binding domain could lead to resistance to 1301B7 binding and neutralization. It would be valuable to comprehend the range of mutations affecting the effectiveness of 1301B7.

The research concentrated on the preventive application of 1301B7 in mice. Its capability as a treatment for active SARS-CoV-2 infections was not assessed. Further research would help evaluate its effectiveness as a treatment in appropriate animal models.

Although monoclonal antibodies are typically well-tolerated, the study did not offer information on 1301B7's immunogenicity, potential off-target binding, or safety profiles. A thorough evaluation of clinical development would be necessary for these aspects. Even though the study thoroughly described the structural and functional features of 1301B7, further investigation is needed to grasp its potential for clinical application. This includes assessing antibody resistance, therapeutic effectiveness, potential for modification, combination treatments, and safety characteristics.

Perhaps most critically, the authors did not explore the possible combined impacts of pairing 1301B7 with other neutralizing antibodies, antivirals, or current Covid-19 treatments. Assessing these combinations can improve the overall effectiveness and range of protection. Combining multiple antibodies into a combination treatment creates a multiplicated safety net when a contact point is mutated in a later variant. Installing multiple antibody protection levels ensures a more robust long-term protection against immune evasive mutation.

While 1301B7 demonstrates much promise, we have described many promising monoclonal antibodies over the past four years but failed to clear the final hurdles. Ultimately, combining such an antibody with another that targets a more conserved region of the spike or elsewhere in the virus could ensure a more stable long-term treatment, but until then, 1301B7 remains experimental.

To read more of my work, please visit www.williamhaseltine.com .

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