Updated COVID-19 Boosters and Flu Vaccines

Published September 23, 2022
See all editions of Covid in Focus here.

Promote COVID-19 Boosters and Flu Vaccines on Campus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recommended updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer and Moderna. The updated boosters provide better protection from COVID-19, including variants like Omicron BA.4 and BA.5. Flu vaccines for the 2022–2023 flu season are now available, too.

You can share the tips below to educate your campus community about COVID-19 boosters and flu vaccines.  

Tips to Share with Students, Faculty, and Staff

Share the following talking points to help your students, faculty, and staff stay healthy. You can copy and paste the content below into your own communication materials (like emails, campus news articles, and blog posts).

Get Your Updated COVID-19 Booster and Flu Vaccine

Getting a COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine can help you stay healthy through the fall and winter. Pfizer and Moderna have just updated their boosters to provide even better protection from COVID-19, including the latest Omicron variants.

If it’s been at least 2 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or booster, you can get an updated booster now. And flu vaccines are available now, too.

Get Your COVID-19 Booster


What can a COVID-19 booster do for me?
The protection you get from your original COVID-19 vaccine fades over time. Boosters give you a “boost” of protection, so your body will get better at recognizing and fighting off the virus.

COVID-19 may not seem like a big deal — but there’s no way to know how it will affect you. Even young and healthy people have gotten very sick and developed long-term health problems from COVID-19. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters lowers your risk of getting very sick, going to the hospital, or developing long-term health problems. That’s why it’s so important to get boosted!

Why do we need updated COVID-19 boosters?
Researchers developed the original COVID-19 vaccine back in 2020, and the virus has changed a lot since then. Now we have variants, or new versions of the COVID-19 virus. Pfizer and Moderna have updated their boosters to provide better protection from the latest variants. (Doctors call the updated boosters “bivalent” because they’re designed to provide protection from these variants as well as the original version of the virus.)

While COVID-19 has only been around for a few years, we’ve been updating vaccines this way for a long time. For example, the flu virus is always changing, so scientists update the flu vaccine each year to give us the best possible protection from the current version of the virus.

Are the updated COVID-19 boosters free?
The updated COVID-19 boosters are free for everyone, even if you don’t have health insurance. 

When can I get an updated booster?
You can get an updated booster now if it’s been at least 2 months since you got your last COVID-19 vaccine or booster. For more details, visit CDC's webpage and scroll down to “Find Out When You Can Get Your Booster.”

Which booster should I get — Pfizer or Moderna?
If you’re age 18 or older, you can choose the Pfizer or Moderna booster. If you’re younger than 18, you can get the Pfizer booster. It doesn’t matter which vaccine or booster you’ve had before.

Where can I get an updated booster?
You can search Vaccines.gov or text your ZIP code to 438829 to find a COVID-19 booster location near you. Here are a few places that may offer COVID-19 boosters:

  • Our campus health center
  • Local pharmacies
  • Health care providers’ offices
  • Community health clinics
  • Local health departments

When you make an appointment or go to get your booster, ask for an updated COVID-19 booster.

Do I need to bring anything with me?
Be sure to bring your COVID-19 vaccine card with you. Also bring your ID and health insurance card if you have one.

Get Your Flu Vaccine


Do I need to get the flu vaccine?
Yep! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine for everyone age 6 months and older. You might think the flu isn’t that bad, but it can cause serious health problems. Even if you don’t get very sick from the flu, you might miss out on class, work, and activities you care about.

The flu vaccine can help prevent you from catching the flu — and if you do catch the flu, it won't be as bad. By getting a flu vaccine, you’re also helping to protect people around you, including those who are at high risk for getting really sick.

Is the flu vaccine free?
Most health insurance plans cover the cost of the flu vaccine. Be sure to bring your health insurance card and ID to your appointment.

When can I get the flu vaccine?
Updated flu vaccines are available now. The sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner you’ll be protected.

Can I get my flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster at the same time?
Yes. It’s safe (and easy!) to get your flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster at the same time.

Where can I get the flu vaccine?
Here are a few places that may offer flu vaccines:

  • Our campus health center
  • Local pharmacies
  • Health care providers’ offices
  • Community health clinics
  • Local health departments

Social Media Content to Share with Students, Faculty, and Staff

You can post this content on your campus social media accounts.

Facebook and Twitter

Give yourself a boost! If it’s been 2 months since your last #COVID19 vaccine or booster, you can get an updated booster now. #Flu vaccines are now available, too. Learn more: Vaccines.gov

Instagram Post

Give yourself a boost! If it’s been 2 months since your last #COVID19 vaccine or booster, you can get an updated booster now. #Flu vaccines are now available, too. Learn more at the link in our bio.

[Campus communicators: Instagram doesn’t allow links in the body of a post. We recommend including a link to Vaccines.gov in the bio section at the top of your profile.]