The COVID-19 vaccine is now recommended for everybody 6 months and older as a one-time, once-a-year vaccine, according to a doctor with OSF HealthCare. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration just approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine that is expected to be available at pharmacies around the country in the coming weeks.

The vaccine doesn't protect you from getting COVID, it tries to decrease the severity of how sick you would get, according to Dr. Doug Kasper, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. He says the federal government will make the home COVID test free again this year.

There's no issue with timing on getting the COVID and influenza vaccines at the same time, but the RSV vaccine is recommended to be given separate. For all vaccine questions, Dr. Kasper recommends speaking with your primary care team to go over options.