CDC Recommends Pfizer Booster at 5 Months, Additional Primary Dose for Certain Immunocompromised Children

Minnesota Department of Health sent this bulletin at 01/04/2022 05:56 PM CST
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CDC Recommends Pfizer Booster at 5 Months, Additional Primary Dose for Certain Immunocompromised Children

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Minnesota Department of Health

January 4, 2022

 

Following the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amending the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a couple of updated recommendations on Jan. 4. As of Jan. 4, CDC updated their recommendation for a single booster dose at 5 months after the completion of the primary series for those age 16 years and older who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, shortening the interval from 6 months to 5 months. The booster interval recommendation for adults who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (2 months) or the Moderna vaccine (6 months), has not changed.

Additionally, CDC is recommending that moderately or severely immunocompromised children age 5 through 11 years receive an additional primary dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 28 days after their second shot. This is consistent with their prior recommendation for people 12 and older. More information is available at CDC: Interim Clinical Considerations for COVID-19 vaccination in moderately or severely immunocompromised people.

Providers may immediately implement these two new recommendations for Pfizer vaccine.

Refer to CDC’s media statement for more information at CDC Recommends Pfizer Booster at 5 Months, Additional Primary Dose for Certain Immunocompromised Children. 

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will be meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 5 to discuss and provide recommendations on the use of a single booster dose for people age 12 through 15 years that was also authorized by FDA this week. Recommendations from the ACIP and CDC need to occur before this change can be implemented. We will share more information in our provider bulletin later this week.

As always, do not miss any opportunity to vaccinate people who need the primary series. Vaccination and getting a booster when eligible, along with other preventive measures like masking and avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, remain our most effective methods for fighting COVID-19.

Thank you for your continued partnership and the critical role you play in keeping Minnesotans safe!

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