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September 2, 2022
The Alaska Immunization Program will host a webinar on Tuesday, Sept 6 2-3PM regarding updates for the COVID bivalent boosters. Please register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqd-uhqj8sE9d_YqtcL1WD5sZhy6gq8BWK
Moderna and Pfizer training sessions are available for bivalent boosters.
This week the FDA authorized and CDC recommended an updated COVID-19 booster for people ages 12 and older two months following either primary vaccination or their most recent booster dose. These updated mRNA boosters are designed to provide increased protection against the currently circulating variants.
With this authorization, the original Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized as booster doses for people ages 12 years and older.
For those ages 5 through 11, a booster vaccine is recommended if it’s been 5 months since receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or 2 months since receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Order sets have been added to all COVID-19 vaccine providers.
Appointments for monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna boosters in people 12 years of age and older must be rescheduled for when locations have the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines available.
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.
Ages 12-17 must receive the Pfizer-BioNTech booster. Ages 18 and older can receive either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech.
 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, no additional doses are recommended.
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.
Flu ordering for enrolled providers will open on Tuesday. Two epi bulletins are now published for the 2022-23 influenza season.
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