Following FDA regulatory action (see Wednesday’s PNN), CDC has taken steps to simplify COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and allow more flexibility for people at higher risk who want added protection from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses.
CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met yesterday to discuss these COVID-19 vaccine recommendation changes and the associated implications and implementation. Although there was no vote at this meeting, ACIP members expressed their support for these recommendations:
- CDC’s new recommendations allow an additional updated (bivalent) vaccine dose for adults ages 65 years or older and additional doses for people who are immunocompromised. This allows more flexibility for healthcare providers to administer additional doses to immunocompromised patients as needed.
- Monovalent (original) COVID-19 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for use in the United States.
- CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 years or older receive an updated (bivalent) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they previously completed their (monovalent) primary series.
- Individuals ages 6 years and older who have already received an updated mRNA vaccine do not need to take any action unless they are 65 years or older or immunocompromised.
- For young children, multiple doses continue to be recommended and will vary by age, vaccine, and which vaccines were previously received.
Alternatives to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines remain available for people who cannot or will not receive an mRNA vaccine. CDC’s recommendations for use of (monovalent) Novavax or Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccines were not affected by these changes.