Editing Openai/69615974-2f64-8012-a46a-68e6d942b5b3 (section)

==== Why COVID-19 vaccination (as recommended) is usually the lower health risk ====

COVID vaccination is an intermittent medical intervention (often once per season, sometimes two doses in a season for older adults or certain high‑risk groups) with a known, generally low rate of serious adverse events—and a clear protective benefit against severe disease.
* In the U.S., CDC says the 2025–2026 COVID‑19 vaccine is recommended for ages 6 months+ using individual-based (shared) decision‑making, emphasizing that vaccination helps protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and is especially important for 65+ and other higher‑risk groups. CDC<ref>{{cite web|title=CDC|url=https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html|publisher=cdc.gov|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
* Serious side effects are rare, but real. The most-discussed is myocarditis/pericarditis, mainly in males 12–24, usually shortly after vaccination. FDA’s June 25, 2025 safety communication reports an estimated incidence (for the 2023–2024 formula) of about 8 cases per million doses (ages 6 months–64) and about 27 cases per million doses in males 12–24 in the 1–7 days after vaccination. U.S. Food and Drug Administration<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Food and Drug Administration|url=https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/safety-availability-biologics/fda-approves-required-updated-warning-labeling-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-regarding-myocarditis-and|publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
* CDC notes that while myocarditis cases have occurred, most patients with myocarditis after mRNA vaccination had symptom resolution by hospital discharge, and CDC continues safety monitoring. CDC<ref>{{cite web|title=CDC|url=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/myocarditis.html|publisher=cdc.gov|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

===== What “regular basis” means in practice =====

COVID vaccines are not typically given weekly or monthly. For example, CDC’s 2025–2026 schedule indicates that for adults 65+, the season’s guidance includes 2 doses, with the second dose ~6 months after the first (minimum interval varies by product). CDC<ref>{{cite web|title=CDC|url=https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/vaccine-considerations/routine-guidance.html|publisher=cdc.gov|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
For many other people, it’s commonly one updated dose per season (depending on age/risk/history), using shared decision‑making. CDC<ref>{{cite web|title=CDC|url=https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html|publisher=cdc.gov|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>