This fall and winter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects the number of people hospitalized with respiratory viruses like COVID-19, RSV, and influenza to be similar to or lower than last year — but still higher than before the pandemic. To help protect against the latest COVID-19 variants, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated vaccines.

Separately, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is recommending people who are immunocompromised consider taking pemivibart (Pemgarda), a preventive treatment against severe illness from COVID-19. Recent research also suggests that taking the antiviral treatment nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) during a COVID-19 infection can lower the risk of long COVID for people with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions.

Finally, free COVID-19 tests are now available to U.S. households.

Updated COVID-19 Vaccines

The updated messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer are designed specifically to target the most recent variants of the virus, including the omicron KP.2 strain. Similarly, the updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine — which is protein-based — has been updated to target the omicron JN.1 strain. This targeted approach aims to provide better protection against hospitalization or death from COVID-19.

The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine. “It is especially important to get your 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine,” according to the agency.

Additional Protection for Immunocompromised Individuals

In August, the IDSA released guidelines recommending pemivibart for people 12 and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and may not respond effectively to vaccines. Granted an emergency use authorization by the FDA in March 2024, pemivibart is taken to help prevent COVID-19 in people who are not currently infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and have not had recent exposure to someone with the virus. It’s given as an IV infusion and works by neutralizing (stopping or weakening) the virus if the person is exposed to it.

For people who are immunocompromised and do catch COVID-19, taking nirmatrelvir-ritonavir may help reduce their risk of long COVID. The FDA approved the drug in 2023 to treat moderate COVID-19 in people at high risk of severe illness. An observational study found that taking nirmatrelvir-ritonavir was linked to a 12 percent lower chance of developing long COVID — primarily for people with a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Free Tests Available

Finally, the federal government will offer free COVID-19 tests through the mail. Every U.S. household can order four tests at COVIDTests.gov. These tests will detect current COVID-19 variants.

Should You Consider the New COVID-19 Vaccines or Treatments if You Have Breast Cancer?

If you have breast cancer and are undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, your immune system may be weakened. This can increase your vulnerability to severe COVID-19 and potentially reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. Staying up to date on vaccines can play an important role in keeping you safe, and pemivibart could offer an extra layer of protection.

Additionally, if you contract COVID-19, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir may help reduce the risk of severe illness and long COVID, especially if taken early. At-home testing also provides a quick way to determine if you may be infected and contagious, so you can take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.

However, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to protecting yourself against COVID-19 if you’re living with breast cancer. It’s important to discuss with your doctor whether the latest vaccines or pemivibart could be suitable for you. While nirmatrelvir-ritonavir can reduce COVID-19 severity, it may affect cancer treatments or increase risks, so talk to your health care provider about possible side effects.

Discover what past research has said about COVID-19 vaccines and breast cancer.

Find Your Team

If you have questions about COVID-19 vaccines and breast cancer, you’re not alone. By becoming a member of MyBCTeam — the social network for people living with breast cancer and their loved ones — you can access a library of medically reviewed articles and connect with thousands of others who understand life with breast cancer.

What is your experience with COVID-19 and vaccines? What questions do you have? Share your story in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.