As the Christmas season looms, with its crowded end-of-year parties, family gatherings and busy travel schedules, many New Zealanders might be asking a now familiar question: should I get another COVID-19 booster?

After nearly four years of continuous Omicron circulation, each coming with a distinct summer wave, it is understandable to be weighing this up.

Many of us now have reasonable immunity to COVID, both from previous vaccines and from repeated contact with the virus. This may not stop us getting sick with a another COVID infection, but it makes it less likely that it would cause severe illness.

However, some groups particularly older people and those with significant medical conditions – continue to be at higher risk. For these people, getting a top-up before Christmas – and ahead of any summer travel – is indeed a wise idea.

This holds true even when the risk of catching the coronavirus this holiday season is far lower than in the past.

While COVID-19 waves have become more consistent – we have now observed eight, occurring roughly twice a year – they have also grown markedly smaller since Omicron began spreading widely in early 2022.

Hospitalisation data from Te Whatu Ora shows this decline clearly. The enormous peaks of early 2022 are gone and now, in late-2025, the........

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