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Tag: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

  • CDC simplifies COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, allows older adults and immunocompromised adults to get second dose of the updated vaccine

    CDC simplifies COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, allows older adults and immunocompromised adults to get second dose of the updated vaccine

    Following FDA regulatory action, the CDC has taken steps to simplify COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and allow more flexibility for people at higher risk who want the option of added protection from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses.

    CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met today 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.

    These changes include:

    • CDC’s new recommendations allow an additional updated (bivalent) vaccine dose for adults ages 65 years and 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 and 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 the changes made today.

    CDC and ACIP will continue to monitor COVID-19 disease levels and vaccine effectiveness in the months ahead and are anticipated to have additional discussions around potential updates this fall.

  • CDC Recommends the First Updated COVID-19 Booster

    CDC Recommends the First Updated COVID-19 Booster

    In the coming weeks, CDC also expects to recommend updated COVID-19 boosters for other pediatric groups

    by David Miller

    Today, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations for use of updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for people ages 12 years and older and from Moderna for people ages 18 years and older.

    The CDC said today, “Updated COVID-19 boosters add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition, helping to restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination by targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune-evading.”

    CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky – CDC photo

    In the coming weeks, the CDC is also expected to recommend updated COVID-19 boosters for other pediatric groups, per the discussion and evaluation of the data by ACIP on Sept. 1, 2022.

    “When data are available and FDA authorizes these other types of COVID-19 boosters, CDC will quickly move to help make them available in the United States,” according to a press statement issued today.

    The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization of updated COVID-19 boosters, and CDC’s recommendation for use, are the next steps forward in our country’s vaccination program.

    Dr. Walensky said today, “The updated COVID-19 boosters are formulated to better protect against the most recently circulating COVID-19 variant. They can help restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination and were designed to provide broader protection against newer variants. This recommendation followed a comprehensive scientific evaluation and robust scientific discussion. If you are eligible, there is no bad time to get your COVID-19 booster and I strongly encourage you to receive it.”