The CDC now recommends being 'up to date' with your COVID-19 vaccines, not just 'fully vaccinated.' Here's what it means.

Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce
Updated ·1 min read
child getting vaccine shot
There's a difference between being "fully vaccinated" and "up to date" with your vaccines, per the CDC.AP Photo/David Goldman

  • The CDC now recommends Americans stay "up to date" with their COVID-19 shots rather than be "fully vaccinated."

  • The CDC updated the wording of its recommendation on Wednesday.

  • Here's what it means to be "up to date" with your COVID-19 vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that Americans stay "up to date" with COVID-19 vaccines, rather than be "fully vaccinated."

The CDC updated the wording of its recommendation on Wednesday.

For most people, completing a primary series of a particular vaccine means they're deemed "fully vaccinated," but they're only deemed "up to date" if they then receive a booster shot.

People who are "up to date" with their shots "are well protected from serious illness or other health outcomes," the CDC said.

The agency said: "The CDC recommends that people remain up to date with their vaccines, which includes additional doses for individuals who are immunocompromised or booster doses at regular time points. Individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an additional primary shot and a booster shot."

Here's the CDC's guidance for getting the correct shots to ensure you're "optimally protected" against COVID-19:

CDC table showing what it means to be 'up to date' with vaccines
The CDC's guidance on getting the right COVID-19 shots.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Further information is available on the CDC website.

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