Focus on facts

The FDA continues to remove products with misleading claims from store shelves and online marketplaces. In the meantime, keep in mind that stories from friends and family and celebrity testimonials aren't a substitute for scientific evidence. A miracle cure that claims to contain a secret ingredient is likely a hoax.

Talk with your healthcare professional if you have questions about COVID-19 treatment or prevention.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine protects against serious illness, the need for hospital care due to COVID-19 and death from COVID-19. Staying up to date with the latest vaccine is most important for people at higher risk. You are at higher risk if you are over age 65, have a weakened immune system, are pregnant or have a chronic condition, such as heart disease, lung disease or obesity.

Serious side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine are extremely rare. Because of that, even healthy adults benefit from the COVID-19 vaccine, which lowers the risk of serious illness at a rate similar to that of the flu vaccine.

Most people are up to date after one dose of the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine from any vaccine maker. Children ages 6 months to 23 months are up to date after two doses of Spikevax spaced at least four weeks apart.

COVID-19 medicine helps people who are at risk of, diagnosed with or have symptoms of the disease.

You can get medicine to manage symptoms. Some medicines stop the virus that causes COVID-19 from spreading in the body. And some COVID-19 medicines help manage the body's immune system response.