Getting a COVID-19 vaccine or booster is similar to getting other vaccines and does not require any specific preparation. However, you can take some steps to reduce side effects and improve effectiveness.

The COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

You may experience mild side effects from the vaccine. Whether or not you’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past, it’s best to go into your appointment knowing what to expect.

Keep reading to learn how to prepare your body for COVID-19 vaccination, how to plan for and reduce potential side effects after vaccination, and what to expect during your appointment.

2024 COVID-19 vaccination guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the vaccination guidelines depending on whether you’ve received the initial vaccine series.

For people already up to date on COVID-19 vaccination:

  • Children 6 months to 4 years old: one dose of an age-appropriate 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine
  • People 5 to 64 years old: one dose of an age-appropriate 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine
  • People 65 years old and older: two doses of any 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine, spaced 6 months (and at least two months) apart

For people who have never received an initial COVID-19 vaccination series:

  • Children 6 months to 4 years old: multidose initial series with a 2024–2025 mRNA vaccine
  • Children 5 to 11: one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna 2024–2025 vaccine
  • People 12 to 64 years old: two doses of the 2024–2025 Novavax or one dose of Pfizer or Moderna
  • People 65 years old and older: two doses of 2024–2025 Novavax or one dose of Pfizer or Moderna followed by a third dose of any COVID-19 vaccine 6 months (minimum interval 2 months) later

You don’t need to make any special preparations for getting the COVID-19 vaccine aside from wearing a shirt that allows a healthcare professional to inject the vaccine into your upper arm.

But it may be helpful to take care of your body in the days leading up to your appointment. These actions can help support healthy immune system function, which may potentially help your body respond effectively to the vaccine:

Some research suggests that getting enough sleep before your appointment can help improve the effectiveness of many vaccines. Try to get a good night’s sleep before your appointment.

You may experience side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. Common side effects include:

Not everyone who gets the vaccine experiences side effects. Children may have mild side effects.

The CDC recommends that you do not take any pain relievers before getting the vaccine, but you may take them afterward if you need to.

You might want to make other preparations in case you feel unwell after getting your shot, such as preparing your next meal in advance or planning to take it easy the day after your vaccine. If you have mild side effects after your vaccination, consider:

  • resting or taking a nap, which helps your body recover
  • using over-the-counter pain relievers if needed
  • staying hydrated, as dehydration can worsen many side effects
  • eating nutritious meals

During a vaccination appointment, a healthcare professional will likely review the potential side effects of vaccination with you and should provide you with paperwork about the vaccine. Then, they’ll typically clean the area where you will receive the vaccine and will then inject it.

Most people can receive the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine in the same visit.

If you currently take blood thinners, you can safely get the COVID-19 vaccination, but be sure to tell the healthcare professional who is giving you the vaccine. Blood thinners may increase the amount that you bleed during a vaccination.

If you tend to get dizzy or lightheaded during vaccinations, be sure to inform the healthcare professional who is vaccinating you. They may encourage you to stay seated for a few minutes after you receive the vaccine.

If you’re getting the vaccine for the first time, the healthcare professional may recommend that you wait 10 to 15 minutes after your vaccination so they can monitor you for side effects.

Who should not get the COVID-19 vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines state that you should not get the COVID-19 vaccine if:

  • You have a history of severe allergic reactions/anaphylaxis to any of the ingredients of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • You have a fever over 101.3ºF (38.5ºC) on the day of your vaccine appointment.

If you have a chronic health condition or an illness, it’s best to talk with a healthcare professional before making your vaccine appointment. They may recommend waiting until you’ve recovered from an illness before getting the vaccine.

If your immune system is suppressed as a result of treatment for cancer or a chronic condition, such as immunotherapy treatment, a healthcare professional may recommend that you get the vaccine at a specific time in your treatment cycle. They may also recommend that you follow different guidelines on when to get your next booster.

Guidelines for people who are immunosuppressed

As of January 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends changes to the typical vaccination schedule for people 6 months old and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. The guidelines differ based on whether you’ve had a previous vaccination.

For people who have not received a prior COVID-19 vaccination:

  • a multidose initial vaccine series with an age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine, plus
  • one dose 6 months (minimum interval 2 months) after completion of the initial series
  • additional doses if your healthcare professional recommends it

For people who have already completed all doses of the initial series:

  • two age-appropriate doses of 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months (minimum interval 2 months) apart
  • additional doses if your healthcare professional recommends it

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine does not require any specific preparation. However, you can support a healthy immune response to the vaccine by getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and eating nutritious meals leading up to your appointment.

It can also help to be aware of the possible side effects and to plan to take it easy the day after your vaccination.