Dear Dr. Roach: I am an 80-year-old healthy woman (who is 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 118 pounds). I have no underlying health issues except slightly high blood pressure. I have had all the COVID vaccines that have been offered. I did have a slight case of COVID in 2022.

I received the 2024-25 COVID vaccine on Aug. 1. Then they came up with an updated version for 2025-26. I would need to wait two months to get another vaccination. Is it worth getting the updated version to protect me this coming winter, or would this be "overkill"?

— C.R.

Dear C.R.: The 2024-25 vaccine has activity against the variants of the COVID vaccine that are circulating now, so you did get some benefit from the vaccine. The 2025-26 vaccines are intended to provide better protection against the strains that

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