For millions of Americans, getting a COVID-19 vaccine this fall may be different and more difficult than in years past.

A federal vaccine panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), voted on Sept. 19 to recommend the updated COVID-19 vaccine for adults 65 and older using “shared clinical decision making,” which is a discussion between a health care provider and a patient.

This year’s recommendations are more restrictive than those of previous years, when guidelines encouraged nearly everyone 6 months and older to get the vaccine. The shift comes after health officials in May proposed more limited recommendations and after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members of ACIP and selected their replacements.

In August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the COVID-19 vaccines for people 65 and older and individuals 6 months to 64 years with underlying conditions that increase their risk of severe illness. According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, ACIP recommendations don’t always have to mirror FDA labeling.

AARP spoke with several leading experts to find out what adults 50 and older should know about COVID-19 vaccines this year. Here’s what we learned: 

These updated vaccines for the 2025-2026 season from Pfizer and Moderna are already in pharmacies and doctors’ offices throughout the country or making their way there, and an updated COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax is expected to be available in early fall, according to a spokesperson from Sanofi, the company that markets the vaccine.

Who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine?

ACIP, the body that issues immunization guidelines for the American public, voted to recommend the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines for:

• Adults 65 and older, in consultation with a health care provider
• People ages 6 months to 64 years, in consultation with a health care provider and “with an emphasis that the risk-benefit of vaccination is most favorable for individuals who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease and lowest for individuals who are not at an increased risk.”  

What health conditions increase your risk of severe COVID-19?

There is a long list of health conditions that the CDC says can increase a person’s risk of severe illness from a coronavirus infection. The list includes asthma, cancer, heart disease, obesity, physical inactivity, depression and smoking, among others.

“More than half of adults meet one of these conditions,” says Dr. Kawsar Talaat, an associate professor in the department of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Which is why the [previous] ACIP recommended universal vaccination — because half of people meet these conditions,” and nearly everyone knows someone who is at greater risk of complications if they get COVID-19, she says.

Where can I get a COVID vaccine?

While doctors’ offices are stocking the vaccine, about 90 percent of COVID-19 shots given in the U.S. during the 2024-2025 season were administered in pharmacies. The same is true for the 2023-2024 season, federal data shows.

Though this year’s recommendations are more restrictive, if adopted by the CDC, they should help clear up confusion many have faced in recent weeks when trying to get a vaccine at the pharmacy, due to varying state and store policies.

Will the vaccine be covered by insurance?

Vaccine recommendations made by ACIP and approved by the CDC are covered by most insurance plans at no cost-sharing. 

AHIP, a trade association of health insurance companies, had said that its members will “continue to cover all ACIP-recommended immunizations that were recommended as of September 1, 2025, including updated formulations of the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, with no cost-sharing for patients through the end of 2026.”

If you’re concerned about insurance coverage, your pharmacist should be able to check it on the spot, so be sure to bring your insurance card, says Jigar Mehta, a pharmacist and manager of outpatient pharmacy operations at Beth Israel Lahey Health Pharmacy at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

What should older adults know?

People 75 and older have the highest risk of ending up in the hospital with COVID or COVID-related complications, Hopkins says. But they are not the only group at high risk.

Adults 50 to 64 are still at “substantially higher risk of hospitalization,” says Noel Brewer, a distinguished professor in public health and health behavior at the University of North Carolina. Roughly 94 percent of COVID deaths have been among adults 50 and older, according to CDC data.

Young children are also at increased risk, research shows.

Preliminary estimates from the CDC show that from Oct. 1, 2024, through June 7, 2025, there were between 270,000 and 440,000 hospitalizations from COVID-19 in the U.S. and between 32,000 and 51,000 deaths. The majority of adults hospitalized last year for COVID had not received the latest vaccine.

Studies suggest that COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives worldwide and have prevented many more hospitalizations. The risk of long COVID, which affects an estimated 400 million people globally, is also significantly reduced with the vaccine, research shows.

“Even people who have had COVID before and have had the vaccine before, if they’re not up to date on their boosters, they are at much higher risk for long COVID following an infection,” Wurtz says.

When should you get the vaccine?

The best time to get the fall COVID vaccine is now, Hopkins says. “Because across much of the country, COVID is widespread,” he says.

But if you’ve had a COVID vaccine recently or a COVID infection, you’ll want to wait about three or four months before getting another shot, Talaat says.

“Because you want to maximize the protection you get from each dose. And if you just got a dose a couple of months ago, you’re still quite protected,” she explains.

Concerned about side effects like fatigue, fever and chills? Consider switching brands if you’ve experienced them in the past, Brewer says. “It may be that there are COVID-19 vaccines that will be less reactogenic for those folks,” he says.

Don’t forget about other essential vaccines: In addition to the COVID vaccine, flu shots are recommended in September and October. The RSV vaccine is also recommended for adults 75 and older and people 50 to 74 with certain health conditions. 

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect new information. 

Rachel Nania is an award-winning health editor and writer at AARP.org, who covers a range of topics including diseases and treatments. 

It is estimated that every one in four Americans aged 65+ takes a fall every year in the United States (Centers for Disease Control). This number is significant considering that falls can be detrimental to the health, safety, and financial independence of the individual. The good news is that with increased awareness surrounding this issue both individuals and their loved ones can contribute to reducing the risk of falling and the serious impacts that may follow.

Every year in September, National Fall Prevention Awareness Month takes place. The purpose of fall prevention awareness is for organizations to share education on effective strategies for increasing mobility and strength, while also offering practical solutions for safety. It is also a great opportunity for individuals to reflect on their own risk factors or those of a loved one.

Why is Fall Prevention Important?

Fall prevention is a crucial step in avoiding serious injuries and hospital stays that can be costly to the individual’s bank account and mental health. According to the CDC, among older adults, falls can be life threatening and are the most common cause of non-fatal injuries and hospital admissions (Centers for Disease Control). Additionally, falls are associated with poor health outcomes and a sense of fear that can hinder independence, activity, and strength in older individuals.

However, falls are also preventable! Research shows that understanding risk factors and implementing fall prevention strategies into a daily routine can be extremely beneficial. There are several effective fall prevention programs and toolkits available for older adults and their loved ones. Check out some of these resources which cover both individuals and community-based strategies!

• Falls Prevention Resources for Older Adults and Caregivers | ACL Administration for Community Living
• Patient & Caregiver Resources | STEADI – Older Adult Fall Prevention | CDC Injury Center
• Preventing Falls: How to Develop Community-based Fall Prevention Programs for Older Adults (cdc.gov)

Understanding Risk Factors

It is important to note that falls are not inevitable in older age, but the risk is greater. Therefore, understanding risk factors becomes increasingly important. Risk factors are defined as something that increases a person’s chance of falling.  A risk factor can be biological, behavioral, or environmental and some individuals may experience multiple kinds of risk factors at once. Understanding what defines a risk can be the first crucial step in reducing falls in older adulthood. Below is a short list compiled by the Centers for Disease Control, on common types of risk factors.

Strategies for Fall Prevention

Currently the National Council on Aging offers six steps that can help prevent a fall.

• Find an exercise program that can help build strength and flexibility. Some ideas include heel lifts, toe lifts, sit to stand, wall push-ups, and leg lifts (https://agesafeamerica.com/september-national-falls-preventionmonth/).
• Speak to a health care provider to understand the risk of falling.
• Regularly review medications with a doctor/pharmacist to understand the side effects.
• Get both hearing and vision checked annually.
• Reduce tripping hazards at home.
• Enlist the support of family and friends.

During Fall Prevention Month I encourage you to learn more about fall prevention and to be an advocate for either yourself or a loved one.

It is never too late to make steps towards improving balance and mitigating risk factors. Additionally, remember that fall prevention can reduce financial burden and injuries, increase independence, and can even save a life!

reprinted from AARP Fraud Watch Network

The five Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Maine serve as “one-stop-shops” to answer questions from older adults, individuals with disabilities and their care partners about a wide range of in-home, community-based, and institutional services.

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are experts at answering questions about in-home care services and other types of long-term support. Maine’s five AAAs are also Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) that:

·     provide information and assistance to individuals needing either public or private long-term care resources;

·     serve professionals seeking assistance on behalf of their clients’ long-term care needs;

·     serve individuals planning for their future long-term care needs;

·     serve as the entry point to publicly-administered long-term supports including those funded under Medicaid, the Older Americans Act and state-funded programs.

Maine’s Aging & Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) are designed to serve all older adults, people with disabilities and their care partners who have long-term care community or program needs. To see which center serves your area, visit the Office of Aging and Disability Services’ website.

Everything from what you eat and drink to how much you move can affect the health of this vital organ

If there’s one thing the liver is not, it’s lazy. This hardworking organ is involved in several essential jobs — from breaking down food and storing nutrients to filtering toxins from the blood and fighting infections — which is why keeping your liver in top shape is key to staying healthy as you age.

Still, many of us engage in everyday activities that can damage the liver over time. Here are nine habits that health experts say you should change for the sake of your liver.

1. Skipping your workout

The liver doesn’t want you to be sedentary. In fact, it loves exercise, says Elliot Tapper, M.D., an associate professor in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Michigan Medical School — “and, in particular, resistance exercise,” he adds.

“Even people who don’t lose weight, when they start doing resistance exercise, the training of the muscles changes the way that hormones circulate,” he says, and this helps “drain fat” out of the liver.

A small study published in the journal Gut found that sedentary adults diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (which occurs when too much fat builds up in the organ) who did eight weeks of resistance exercise saw a 13 percent reduction in liver fat, independent of weight loss. They also saw improved markers of blood sugar regulation, which is another sign of improved liver health. 

That’s not to say you shouldn’t also be doing cardio. “Something that gets your heart pumping” benefits the liver, says James Hamilton, M.D., director of hepatology at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

“What we recommend generally is 30 minutes, five times a week, where you’re doing something where your heart is increasing in its output,” he says. “Even that, without weight loss, has been shown to reduce fatty liver and improve insulin resistance.”

In fact, an analysis of research published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology found that adults who participated in the recommended 150 minutes each week of moderate to intense aerobic activity, like a brisk walk, saw a greater improvement in liver fat than those who didn’t hit that mark.

2. Taking certain supplements

If you scroll social media long enough, you’ll no doubt encounter ads for supplements promising to heal your liver. Not so fast with the “buy now” button, doctors say.

“Your liver is like an automatic self-cleaning oven. It detoxifies by itself,” says Lisa Ganjhu, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at NYU Langone Health. Take detoxifying supplements and you actually run the risk of injuring the organ.

“The supplements that give me a heart attack, that keep me up at night, are turmeric and green tea — and these are increasingly common,” Tapper says, emphasizing that the worry with these products is when they’re in supplement form and not as foods. 

In fact, research published in 2024 in the journal JAMA Network Open found that turmeric and green tea supplements were the most commonly consumed of six supplements associated with liver toxicity.  

Because supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration the same way other over-the-counter medications are, consumers don’t always know the ingredients in the bottle and the potency of these pills and powders, Hamilton explains. “And taking too much of it can potentially be toxic,” Ganjhu adds.

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It’s important to keep in mind that supplements can also interact with other medications you may be taking, and this can be hard on the liver “because everything goes through the liver,” Ganjhu says. This is why it’s key, she says, to keep your doctor up to date on all medications you are taking, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.

3. Cutting out coffee  

Believe it or not, drinking coffee can be a boon for the liver, so don’t skip out on your morning cup — just be sure to hold the cream and sugar. A study published in 2022 in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology by Tapper and his colleagues found that individuals who drank three or more cups of coffee a day showed reduced liver stiffness, which is associated with liver disease.

Another study, published in the journal Cureus, found that people at higher risk for liver disease who drink at least three to four cups of coffee have a lower risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (also called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD), which is an increasingly common condition that affects about 100 million people in the U.S.

According to experts at the Cleveland Clinic, the antioxidants found in coffee may be the reason it’s so good for the liver. It’s also thought that compounds in coffee help to initiate a process that removes damaged cells from the liver. 

Can’t handle the caffeine? Research published in BMC Public Health found that decaf comes with liver benefits as well.

4. Overindulging your sweet tooth

“The number one thing that the liver hates when it comes to food is sugar,” Tapper says — and especially high-fructose corn syrup, Ganjhu adds, which you’ll find in sweetened beverages, like juices and sodas, and processed snacks and desserts.

Not only is processing added sugar stressful on the liver, Tapper says, but the liver also turns the sugar into liver fat, which can lead to inflammation and scarring.

A meta-analysis of six studies, published in the European Journal of Nutrition in 2019, found that higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with a 40 percent increased risk of fatty liver disease in both men and women. More recently, researchers from Mass General Brigham followed nearly 100,000 postmenopausal women and found that women who drank at least one sugar-sweetened beverage a day had a higher risk of developing liver cancer and dying from chronic liver disease than women who drank no more than three sugar-sweetened beverages a month. The study was published in 2023 in JAMA.

5. Drinking too much alcohol

This may not be a surprising addition to the list since alcohol’s effects on the liver are long established. But the science surrounding alcohol has changed in recent years, with many experts now saying no amount of alcohol is safe for human health.

“There’s never really a healthy amount of alcohol, and so less alcohol is always better, and you really want to keep under those seven drinks [per week] for a woman and 14 drinks [per week] for a man,” Hamilton says, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines for moderate drinking.

However, there is good news for people who have been exceeding those guidelines: Cutting back your alcohol intake can partially improve the health of your liver, Tapper says. And, he adds, it’s never too late in life to cut it out completely and reverse liver damage.

“All of us who have practiced for several years have dozens of stories of people who thought that they were going to die from liver failure due to alcohol. They stopped drinking, and within a matter of months, their liver can heal all the way up to the point where nobody would ever know that they had liver failure months or weeks ago,” Tapper says.

reprinted from AARP.

BMV TEXT SCAM: The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will never send you a text message with information about a potential suspension or unpaid infractions. Do not click on links in any unsolicited texts. If you were scammed, contact your financial institution immediately. If you are unsure if a message you have received is genuine, contact the BMV at 207-624-9000. 

Scams are rampant these days, with criminals stealing a reported $12.5 billion from Americans in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission. And that’s likely a fraction of actual losses, because fraud is notoriously underreported. But there are ways to protect yourself, including staying up on the latest schemes and following the advice listed below. Also consider adding the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline phone number, 877-908-3360, into your phone right now, so you’ll have it if you need to call us to report a scam ­attempt or get more advice on how to prevent scams and identity theft.

1. Stop mail fraud at the mailbox

Informed Delivery is a free service from the U.S. Postal Service. The agency emails photos of letter-size mail expected to be delivered to you that day or shortly after. This is a great way to be sure that nothing is stolen from your mailbox by ID thieves. Sign up at InformedDelivery.usps.com.

Pick up mail as quickly as possible after it’s delivered, and always take your outgoing mail directly to the post office. A hot fraud now is scammers stealing checks from mailboxes, erasing the ink and using them to steal from bank accounts.

2. Halt scammers at your front door

Consider installing a video camera; they are increasingly less expensive, and they’re easy to install. If you don’t recognize a visitor, don’t answer. If you find yourself being pressured to buy or donate, have a refusal script ready (consider taping it near the door) that says, “I do not do business at my door. Please leave me something to review. If I’m interested, I’ll call you.”

Be wary of people posing as utility workers who show up unannounced. Don’t allow anyone into your house without an appointment.

3. Prevent garbage theft

Shred any papers that contain private information (financial statements, bills, shipping receipts) before putting them out for pickup to avoid identity theft. Don’t want to invest in a good cross-cut shredder? Many communities have shredding events or permanent drop-off sites. Get in the habit of dropping off your accumulated documents once every few months.

4. Watch for credit card skimming

Card skimming, in which the criminal affixes a credit card reader on top of a legitimate card reader at a store or gas station, is estimated to cause up to $1 billion in losses annually. When you are paying at a gas station or other point-of-sale location, inspect the device for loose/broken/scratched machinery to make sure someone hasn’t tampered with it. If you are unsure, notify the cashier and pay using an alternative method.​

5. Monitor your credit report

Routinely check yours (many credit card companies provide it for free; if not, go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call 877-322-8228). Watch for unusual activity; if you see any, report it immediately to the appropriate financial institution.

Then freeze your credit report. This prevents scammers from opening new credit cards or making big purchases in your name. You can unfreeze it as needed for legitimate transactions. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for more information.

6. Safeguard your wallet

Remove cards and information you don’t need to carry (such as your Social Security or Medicare card). Make copies of the remaining cards (front and back) and store in a safe place. 

Audit your wallet and purse frequently. Take out any unnecessary items that collect and could compromise your personal information if lost or that would be a hassle to replace.

7. Protect your financial accounts

Create online accounts with each of your financial institutions. Come up with a unique password for each, and every few months, revise the passwords. (Your best bet is to use a passphrase: Ilovemy­17dogz! is much stronger than Scruffy23. Keep track of passwords in a highly secure password manager or by writing them down and storing them safely.) But you should not rely solely on passwords. Many financial institutions will allow you to use a one-time passcode sent to your phone as an extra layer of security.

Then get in the habit of reviewing the transaction lists on a weekly or biweekly basis. Be sure you can account for every listed transaction. Spot something odd or incorrect? Immediately report it.

8. Safeguard your smartphone

If you have a newer model, turn on biometric identification (finger­print or facial recognition); this will help prevent a thief from logging in to your phone.

Send calls from unknown numbers to voicemail (you can enable this in the phone’s settings). Make sure your voicemail is set up and not full, so you can receive legitimate messages.

Scammers are sending far more bogus texts, often posing as companies you routinely deal with. Never respond to an unsolicited business text; if you think it might be valid, call the organization or go online.

Also make sure you are signed out of any ­financial apps on your phone — credit cards, financial institutions and peer-to-peer apps such as Venmo, CashApp or Zelle — when you aren’t using them.

9. Secure your computer

Turn on two-factor authentication for all secure websites you frequent, such as financial institutions or utility companies (find out how via each site’s online security center). Then only someone logged in to your phone can receive the code to access those accounts.

Consider subscribing to an antivirus software service. Some security experts say browsers and device manufacturers have more built-in malware protection than years ago, such as Microsoft Defender, which comes installed on some devices. Some paid subscriptions also include ad tracker blocking, cloud backups of your machines and identity theft monitoring.

10. Protect your email accounts

Actively designate unsolicited and unwanted email that shows up in your inbox as spam, so future emails from that site get blocked.

Do not open file attachments in emails from businesses or people you don’t trust completely. Malware is often planted via email attachments.

11. Set limits on social media

Set your profile so that only your friends can see your Facebook page. To do that, click the downward arrow button in the upper-right corner of your Facebook page, then click on Settings & Privacy and Privacy Checkup. This easy-to-use wizard will guide you through the settings. And never accept friend requests from people you don’t know or respond to random messages from strangers. But also note that impostor scams, where someone pretends to be your friend, are rampant on social media.

12. Verify online stores

To avoid shopping scams, when typing in a URL, double- and triple-check the spelling to ensure you are on the correct page. Scammers often create a URL with one letter off from the authentic one in hopes you won’t catch it.

Remove your credit card number and information from restaurant delivery and retail store sites. Pay using an e-payment service that keeps credit card info on a highly secure site.

13. Don’t pay for anything in gift cards, cryptocurrency or gold

It’s best to pay with a credit card, which can protect you from all sorts of scams — including gift card scams. Criminals prefer untraceable methods of payment that are hard to reverse, so will ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, gold bars, prepaid debit cards. If someone — especially a stranger — asks for payment or debt settlement using one of these payment methods, think twice. 

14. Find a sounding board

It’s a good idea to have at least one person who can help you identify potential scams by being a financial confidante — an objective party you can consult before making big purchases or money transfers to ensure that they’re wise and legitimate. And, as noted above, you also can call the toll-free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 for advice, support and resources (available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET).

15. Change the way you think 

Learn how to not engage. You are under no obligation in these modern times to respond to calls, emails or texts from strangers — especially given that so many of them are fraudulent. One option: Open your iPhone’s contact list and add your family, friends, doctors and other important numbers. Then go into your phone settings and turn on the setting for “silence unknown callers.” This will send any caller who isn’t in your contacts list directly to voicemail.

Learn to say no. Sometimes a caller will get through. Get tough: Say, “I do not do business over the phone. Goodbye.” Then hang up without remorse.

Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t sound right, run it by someone you trust and take extra time to think about it.

reprinted from AARP Fraud Watch Network.

Beware of scammers, sometimes posing as salespeople, offering “free” services or gifts. They may be trying to trick you into signing up for hospice care without your knowledge. 

Here‘s how it works:

1. Scammers text, call, email, post fake ads, or even knock on your door. 
2. They offer “free” gifts or in-home perks, like cooking or cleaning services, protein shakes, medical equipment, or groceries.
3. In exchange, they may ask for your Medicare Number and ask you to sign a paper.
4. They’re tricking you into signing up for hospice care, so they can fraudulently bill Medicare for services in your name.

Remember: Never give out your Medicare Number and don‘t sign anything for free services — it‘s a scam.

If you think you may have experienced fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report it online at Medicare.gov/fraud.

Sincerely,

The Medicare Team

NOTE: Hospice care is for people who are terminally ill — and is a serious decision to be made only between you and your doctor.

reprinted from AARP Fraud Watch Network