CDC Expands Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Down to 6 Months of Age

To: Maine Immunization Program Providers

From: Maine Immunization Program

Subject: CDC Expands Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Down to 6 Months of Age

Date: December 9, 2022

Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization, the CDC has expanded the use of the updated (bivalent) Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to include use in children down to 6 months of age.

As we continue through the holidays and the winter months, it is important to ensure that parents and caregivers of those eligible are considering vaccination to update protection.

The recommendations for administration are as follows:

Moderna: (Monovalent Primary Series) and (Bivalent Booster Dose)

Children 6 months through 5 years of age who received the original (monovalent) Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, 2 dose primary series, are now eligible to receive a single booster of (bivalent) Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.

• The two-dose primary series must be completed using the Moderna COVID-19 monovalent vaccine only.
  • Two doses given 28-days apart.

• A booster can be given using the Moderna COVID-19 bivalent vaccine only.
  • Bivalent can be given two months after completion of the primary series.

Pfizer: (Monovalent – two-dose Primary Series) and Pfizer (third dose to complete the Primary Series)- No booster dose indicated at this time

Children 6 months through 4 years of age who received two doses of the original (monovalent) Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, as part of a primary series, are now eligible to receive one single dose of the bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to complete the primary series.

• The three-dose primary series must now be completed using the following:
  • Two doses of monovalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine,
    • Given three weeks apart.
  • Third dose given using bivalent COVID-19 vaccine,
    • Given two months after monovalent dose #2.
  • The monovalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is no longer authorized for use as the third dose of the primary series.
    • Monovalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is ONLY authorized as the first and second dose of the primary series.
  • Bivalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is NOT authorized as a booster dose at this time.

All pre-orders will ship out on Monday, December 12 and delivered by Wednesday, December 14. Sites may begin administrating vaccine immediately. Ordering has also re-opened in ImmPact.

Please see the FDA’s full announcement here and CDC’s Press Release here.

CDC will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 - COVID-19 Update: Clinical Guidance and Patient Education for Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines (cdc.gov).

If you have any questions, please contact the Maine Immunization Program at (207) 287-3746 or email ImmunizeME.DHHS@maine.gov.