If you’re living with a mental health condition such as depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disease, staying protected against COVID-19 continues to matter — especially as new variants circulate. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new set of COVID-19 vaccines for the 2025-2026 season, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated vaccine guidance.

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Here’s what you should know about this year’s booster, how it works, who qualifies, and how to make a plan with your care team.

1. New Boosters Target the LP.8.1 Variant This Season

The COVID-19 vaccines are reformulated each year to better match the most commonly circulating virus strains. For the 2025-2026 season, the FDA directed vaccine manufacturers to update their formulas using a monovalent JN.1 lineage, specifically the LP.8.1 strain.

The FDA has approved 2025-2026 booster formulas for:

• Pfizer’s Comirnaty — A messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine for people ages 5 to 64 years with at least one condition that raises the risk of severe COVID-19, and for all adults 65 and older
• Moderna’s Spikevax — An mRNA vaccine for people ages 6 months to 64 years with a high-risk condition, and all adults 65 and older
• Moderna mNexspike — A lower-dose mRNA vaccine for people ages 12 to 64 years with a high-risk health condition, and all adults 65 and older
• Novavax’s Nuvaxovid — An adjuvanted, protein-based vaccine for people ages 12 to 64 years with a high-risk health condition, and all adults 65 and older

How Are the Boosters Different?

The main difference is how they’re made. Pfizer and Moderna use mRNA technology, which gives your cells instructions to make a harmless piece of the virus so your immune system learns to fight it. The Novavax vaccine is protein-based (a more traditional vaccine type). It delivers a purified piece of the virus protein with an adjuvant to boost your immune response.

For most people, any of the three options offers similar protection against severe illness. All are approved for high-risk groups, including people with mental health conditions.

2. People With Mental Health Conditions Face Higher Risks From COVID‑19

COVID‑19 can affect many organs beyond the lungs, triggering inflammation or immune dysregulation. This can impact the heart, brain, kidneys, and more. For individuals with mental health conditions, the consequences may be more serious for several reasons:

• Studies show that people with serious mental illness (such as bipolar disorder, major depression, or schizophrenia) are at increased risk of hospitalization and death from COVID‑19 compared with the general population.
• Underlying immune dysregulation, stress, or medication effects may lower the body’s infection defenses.
• Many people with mental health conditions also have other health challenges (such as obesity, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease) that further increase risk.

Can COVID-19 Be Cured?

While most people recover fully from a COVID-19 infection, some develop long COVID, a condition where symptoms persist or reappear weeks or even months after the initial infection. These may include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, and joint pain.

There are treatments available for COVID-19, including antiviral medications like nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid), remdesivir (Veklury), and molnupiravir (Lagevrio). These treatments work best when started early — ideally within the first few days of symptoms.

Not everyone can take these medications. They may interact with other prescriptions or be unsafe for people with certain health conditions. Your doctor can help determine whether one of these treatments is right for you.

3. Experts Encourage Staying Current on COVID‑19 Vaccines

Medical and public health organizations emphasize the importance of vaccination — including for people with mental health conditions.

• A large study from the CDC found that COVID‑19 vaccines are as effective in adults with depression, anxiety, or mood disorders as in people without those diagnoses, in terms of reducing hospitalizations.
• Meta‑analyses and observational studies suggest that those with serious mental illness may still face a higher risk for hospitalization or infection, even after vaccination, reinforcing the need for layered protections.
• The CDC and other public health bodies have added depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia to the list of conditions that increase risk, meaning individuals with these diagnoses are prioritized for boosters in many areas.

Some practical recommendations:

• Get the current COVID‐19 vaccine when you’re eligible. Staying up to date gives your immune system the best chance to fight severe illness.
• Coordinate vaccine timing with mental health or medical treatments if possible (for example, avoid times of acute stress or hospitalization).
• The COVID‑19 vaccines currently approved in the U.S. are not live vaccines, so they don’t carry the same safety concerns that live-attenuated vaccines might in immunocompromised people.
• In some cases, additional COVID‑19 vaccine doses per year may be suggested — discuss with your provider whether you should consider a second booster in six months or more.

Separately, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that people decide whether to get a COVID-19 vaccination based on individual decision-making. This approach is similar to guidance around the annual flu shot: You and your doctor can work together to decide what’s right for you.

4. If You’re Living With a Mental Health Condition, Timing Matters

If you’re considering the updated COVID-19 vaccine, here are important timing steps to talk through with your care team:

• Ask if you qualify based on your age and health history.
• Plan around your treatment cycles. Your doctor may recommend receiving the vaccine during a time when your immune system is more stable.
• Check the timing of your last COVID-19 dose. The updated booster should be given at least two months after your most recent shot.

You can also add extra layers of protection by:

• Wearing a high-quality mask in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces
• Practicing frequent and thorough hand-washing
• Improving ventilation by opening windows or using air filters
• Testing right away if you have symptoms or believe you’ve been exposed

These added steps help lower your risk during treatment weeks or in high-risk situations.

5. Your Doctor Can Help Personalize Your Plan

Every person’s journey is different — and so is their COVID-19 risk. Your care team can help you figure out:

• When to get the updated vaccine
• How it fits into your treatment schedule
• What precautions make the most sense for your lifestyle and health goals

Bringing the FDA guidance with you to your next doctor visit can be helpful. It gives you and your provider a starting point to talk about timing, eligibility, and any questions you may have.

6. Most Insurance Plans Cover COVID-19 Boosters

If the CDC recommends a COVID-19 booster for you, most insurance plans — including Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance — will cover it at no cost. This includes the updated vaccines for the 2025-2026 season. Coverage generally applies as long as the shot is given by a provider in your insurance network.

That said, plan details can vary. Call your insurance provider or check your plan’s website to confirm coverage and avoid any surprises. If you don’t have medical insurance, free COVID-19 vaccines may still be available through public health clinics or federal programs.

Find Your Team

On MyDepressionTeam, people share their experiences with depression and other related mental health disorders, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

What influenced your choice to get — or not get — the new COVID-19 booster? Let others know in the comments below.