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People ages 65 years and older, vaccinated under the routine schedule, are recommended to receive 2 doses of any 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine (i.e., Moderna, Novavax, or Pfizer-BioNTech) separated by 6 months (minimum interval 2 months) regardless of vaccination history, with one exception: Unvaccinated people who initiate vaccination with 2024–2025 Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine are recommended to receive 2 doses of Novavax followed by a third dose of any COVID-19 vaccine 6 months (minimum interval 2 months) later.
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People ages 6 months and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised are recommended to receive:
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Unvaccinated: A multidose initial series with an age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine and 1 dose 6 months (minimum interval 2 months) after completion of the initial series; may receive additional doses under shared clinical decision making
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Previously completed the multidose initial series: 2 age-appropriate doses of 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months (minimum interval 2 months) apart; may receive additional doses under shared clinical decision making.
For more information, please visit the CDC website.
As of October 23, 2024, the CDC recommends that all adults 50 years of age and older get vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. This is a change from the previous recommendation of age 65 and older. The CDC also recommends that adults 19 through 49 years old with risk conditions get vaccinated.
To learn more, please see the official press release.
Resources:
Job aids for adult pneumococcal vaccination
Shared clinical decision-making: This job aid should assist vaccine providers in discussions with older adults considering PCV20 or PCV21 vaccination.
Vaccine timing for adults: This job aid should help vaccine providers interpret adult pneumococcal vaccine recommendations.
App available to interpret recommendations
CDC offers PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor as a free app to quickly and easily provide patient-specific pneumococcal vaccine guidance. It's available for download for iOS and Android mobile devices. There's also a web-based version that doesn't require a download.
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The updated dosing schedule for Bexsero has changed to a 2-dose series for individuals 10 through 23 years, with a 6-month interval instead of the previous 1-month interval. Studies showed a better immune response with a routine dosing interval of 6 months instead of 1 month.
Key Points:
- New 2-dose schedule: The doses should be given 6 months apart.
- Additional doses: If the second dose is administered before the 6-month interval, a third dose is required at least 4 months after the second dose.
- No extra doses needed for those who completed the previous schedule.
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Separate dosing schedules for different age groups or higher-risk individuals:
- Ages 10 - 23: 2 doses at 0 and 6 months.
- Ages 10+ at increased risk: 3 doses at 0, 1-2, and 6 months.
The vaccine brands (Bexsero and Trumenba) are not interchangeable, so the same brand must be used for all doses.
MIP has received additional allocations of nirsevimab 50 mg and have doses available for provider sites to order for babies weighing under 11lbs. Each VFC enrolled provider site can now order up to 40 doses per site.
MIP wants to ensure sites are fully stocked with the number of doses needed for your patient population to ensure that the vaccine is going where it is most needed and that providers do not need to turn away eligible children because of lack of VFC doses. MIP’s goal is to have all nirsevimab doses (50 mg and 100 mg) widely available to all enrolled VFC provider sites across Maine.
Nirsevimab 50 mg remains available to order at a maximum quantity of 40 doses per site. The nirsevimab 100 mg remains open at 100 doses per site. Orders can be placed directly though ImmPact. Please be sure when placing an order, nirsevimab is separate from any other vaccine orders.
**McKesson's Holiday Shipping Calendar**
If you are expecting orders to arrive before the holidays, please keep in mind that routine shipments from McKesson can take up to 4 business days to process before they are shipped. Also, note that shipments may take longer than 4 days to process and ship if the provider does not have regular business hours daily (Regular hours are defined as M-F, 8am-5pm).
Providers are strongly encouraged to order early during the winter holidays. Providers are also encouraged to maintain a minimum of 4 weeks of inventory to prevent vaccine outages if orders are delayed due to weather and/or carrier interruptions.
The CDC's October 2024 update anticipates that the combined peak hospitalizations from flu, COVID-19, and RSV this fall and winter will be similar or lower than last season. Vaccination is expected to play a key role in preventing hospitalizations. As of mid-October, overall respiratory disease activity remains low nationwide, with COVID-19 cases declining and minimal flu and RSV, however, the CDC emphasizes the importance of staying up to date with recommended immunizations to help prevent severe illness and hospitalization. For more information, please visit the CDC website. |
