COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus. Many people who have COVID-19 can have mild symptoms. Other people can have severe illness or die. Older adults or people with certain diseases, such as diabetes, have more risks related to COVID-19 than others.

The best protection against COVID-19 is to take the recommended vaccines. Adults 65 and older who have no immune problems should receive a dose of the 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax), followed by an additional dose at least 4 months later. People who are immunocompromised may require additional vaccine shots and should ask their healthcare professional for guidance.