COVID-19 bivalent vaccine boosters are now authorized

Alaska Department of Health sent this bulletin at 09/02/2022 04:32 PM AKDT

September 2, 2022

A note to Alaska's health professionals:

FDA and CDC have authorized updated, bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.

Here's what you can do:

  • Get the updated booster. To stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, get the updated booster as soon as you're eligible. Go to vaccines.gov to find an appointment.
  • Encourage patients to get the updated booster. Emphasize the optimal protection that comes from staying up to date on vaccinations.
  • Get the annual flu shot, too. Flu vaccines can prevent and reduce severe illness, keeping people out of doctor's offices and hospitals. Learn more.

 

Recommendation details

The updated, bivalent boosters are designed to protect against BA.4 and BA.5 variants in addition to the original COVID-19 strain.

Who is eligible?

People 12 and older are eligible if they have completed a primary series and have not received a dose (primary or booster) in the past 2 months.

Only the booster from Pfizer-BioNTech is authorized for persons ages 12–17. Ages 18 and older can receive either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, regardless of which vaccines they received for previous doses.

Bivalent boosters

FDA and CDC have simplified booster recommendations so that everyone who receives 1 bivalent booster will be "up to date" on COVID vaccinations. At this time, only a single bivalent booster dose is recommended, regardless of the number of booster doses previously received.

NOTE: The original, monovalent boosters are no longer authorized for use in people 12 and older.

Who is not eligible?

People younger than 12

  • No change to vaccine schedules for ages 6 months through 11 years.
  • People ages 5-11 years who completed a Pfizer-BioNTech primary series are eligible for a booster dose 5 months later using the original, monovalent formula.

People who have not completed a primary series

  • People 12 and older must complete a primary series with the original, monovalent formula. Then 2 months later, they can get 1 dose of the updated, bivalent booster.

Thank you!

Thank you all for your continued devotion to protecting Alaskans and improving COVID vaccine access. If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

 

 

Contact Alaska Immunization Program
Anchorage: 907-269-8088 | Toll Free: 866-430-4321 | Email: immune@alaska.gov
Website: https://health.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/iz/Pages/letstalkvaccines.aspx