CDC Recommends Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for Fall/Winter Virus Season

Dear Immunization Partners,

Please share the following information with staff and colleagues. 

Following the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) meeting on September 12, CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter. Updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will be available in Michigan next week. These vaccines are the first COVID-19 vaccines to be available directly from the manufacturers as part of the commercial market, rather than exclusively through the United States Government (USG).

For the 2023-2024 season, CDC recommends:

• Individuals 5 years of age and older, regardless of previous vaccination, are eligible to receive 1 dose of an updated 2023-2024 mRNA COIVD-19 vaccine at least 2 months after receipt of the last COVID-19 vaccine dose.
• Children 6 months through 4 years of age should complete a multi-dose initial series (2 doses of Moderna or 3 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine) with at least one dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals who have completed their initial series with vaccines released prior to this season are eligible for an updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months after receipt of the last COVID-19 vaccine dose.
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should complete a 3-dose initial series with at least one dose of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine and may receive 1 or more additional 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine doses (additional details will be provided in CDC’s Interim Clinical Considerations).
• Bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for use in the United States.

Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. Vaccination also reduces your chance of suffering the effects of Long COVID, which can develop during or following acute infection and last for an extended duration. The 2023-24 updated COVID-19 vaccine dose is recommended at least 2 months after receipt of the last COVID-19 vaccine dose.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is always changing, and protection from COVID-19 vaccines declines over time. Receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine can restore protection and provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States.  Last season, those who received a 2022-2023 COVID-19 vaccine saw greater protection against illness and hospitalization than those who did not receive a 2022-2023 vaccine. To date, hundreds of millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.

Most Americans can still get a COVID-19 vaccine for free. For people with health insurance, most plans will cover COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to you. Michiganders who don’t have health insurance or have health plans that do not cover the cost can reach out to their primary care provider, or local pharmacy participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program, or health department, or visit vaccines.gov for additional information on ways to obtain a free vaccine. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program also may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program.

“We have more tools than ever to prevent the worst outcomes from COVID-19,” said Director Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H. “CDC is now recommending updated COVID-19 vaccination for everyone 6 months and older to better protect you and your loved ones.”

This is the first fall and winter virus season where vaccines are available for the three viruses responsible for most respiratory illness related hospitalizations – COVID-19, RSV, and flu.  Co-administration of the updated COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines, such as flu, is strongly encouraged at the same visit.

BIVALENT COVID-19 VACCINE INVENTORY AND DISPOSAL MANAGEMENT

An important note: Bivalent mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) COVID-19 vaccines are NO LONGER authorized for use in the United States, per the FDA. To minimize the risk of vaccine administration errors, providers should:  

• Remove all bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from storage units immediately, even if they are not expired. 
• Dispose of all bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine vials in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.  
• Bivalent vaccine replacements were not shipped post-FDA action; however, some shipments were in route at the time of the authorization. Bivalent mRNA vaccine shipments received post-FDA action should not be refused. They should be accepted and disposed of in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Report all disposed inventory as wastage. 

• Disposed inventory should be removed from MCIR inventory using the Non-Return Opened MDV transaction.
• Disposed inventory is reported using the Return/Waste Reporting link in MCIR.

Additional information on the transition to commercialized COVID-19 vaccine is forthcoming and will be shared as it becomes available. MDHHS appreciates your patience as we navigate this change.

For more information on updated COVID-19 vaccines visit: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | CDC

For questions, please contact checcimms@michigan.gov.

Thank you for helping to protect Michiganders from vaccine preventable diseases.  

Oakland County Health Division, Immunization Action Plan