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Minnesota Department of Health

October 13, 2022

CDC recommends bivalent booster doses for younger age groups

On Wednesday Oct. 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that all people age 5 years and older receive one bivalent mRNA booster dose at least 2 months after completion of a monovalent primary series or previously received monovalent booster dose.

• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, bivalent (original and Omicron BA.4/BA.5) booster dose is now authorized for people age 5-11 years. This is a new product with a different label, but still has an orange cap. Pre-booked orders are expected to start arriving on Monday, Oct. 17. Ordering is open now for those who did not pre-book vaccine.
• The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, bivalent (original and Omicron BA.4/BA.5) booster dose is now authorized for people age 6-17 years. This is the same vaccine you are already using for adults 18 years and older.
  • Children 6-11 years get 0.25 mL per dose
  • Children 12 years and older get 0.5 mL per dose

With yesterday's authorization, the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is no longer authorized as a booster dose for people 5 through 11 years of age.

For details on CDC’s recommendations and FDA’s authorization, refer to the following media statements: CDC Expands Updated COVID-19 Vaccines to Include Children Ages 5 Through 11 and FDA Authorizes Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines for Use as a Booster Dose in Younger Age Groups.

The FDA EUA fact sheets for health care providers and recipients and caregivers have been updated and can be found at Comirnaty and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines. CDC has also updated the Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines. MDH is currently updating resources to reflect this change and can be found at COVID-19 Vaccine Providers. 

Ancillary kits for pediatric Moderna bivalent boosters

Moderna bivalent boosters can now be used for people age 6 and older. Providers will have the option to receive double the standard ancillary kits to enable them to draw the 10 pediatric doses (as opposed to the five adult doses) from each vial. To request this option, first place your order request in MIIC for the bivalent Moderna vaccine and then email health.mdhvaccine@state.mn.us with your request for double ancillary kits. If you would like to opt out of receiving ancillary kits in the special instructions, please state “No Ancillary Supplies” when you are placing your order.

Pfizer and Moderna bivalent vaccine trainings

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine training now includes information on the authorization of the bivalent vaccine presentation for age 5-11 years. More information including links to attend educational sessions can be found at Pfizer: Medical Updates & Immunization Site Training for All Healthcare Providers led by Pfizer Vaccines US Medical Affairs.

Moderna is offering daily interactive office hours found at Regional Medical Affairs Office Hours: "Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent". Webinar dates for the Moderna COVID-19 pediatric bivalent boosters will be announced soon. 

Find COVID-19 vaccine locations update

The Pfizer bivalent booster (5-11) and Moderna bivalent booster (6-11) has been added to the Find COVID-19 vaccine locations tool. We strongly encourage you to use the State of Minnesota COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Sites form to add and modify your vaccination sites when you are ready to administer bivalent booster vaccine formulations to younger age groups. Sites are also able to differentiate between offering primary series and booster presentations in the 5-11 age group. Options will include specific age groups you serve, based on your provider type.

Questions on the Find COVID-19 vaccine locations tool can be directed to Julie Viken at julie.viken@state.mn.us and Anthony Jumelles at anthony.jumelles.c19@state.mn.us.

Transition to COVID-19 Vaccine Situation Update webpage

COVID-19 vaccine data has moved to the MDH COVID-19 Vaccine Situation Update webpage. This move means that Minnesotans can go to one place to see COVID-19 data presented in similar formats and updated on similar schedules. The graphs and charts are in the same format as other Situation Update pages and people can scroll down the page to see different data elements – rather than click on tabs at the top of a dashboard.

The data elements people are used to seeing like percentages of people who are up to date, number of doses administered by age group, health equity data, etc. is still available. New vaccination data has been added, including statewide data on people vaccinated over time as well as additional vaccination data for specific populations: prison settings, jail settings, people experiencing homelessness, and people enrolled in Medicaid programs.

Separate information on boosters/additional doses is no longer provided as recommendations have changed to include the bivalent booster. Information on people who are up to date includes boosters for those who are eligible to receive them. Data on vaccine distribution is no longer posted as vaccine is widely available.

If you have any questions about these changes or COVID-19 vaccine data, please contact miichelp@state.mn.us.

Find previous bulletins at COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates.

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