Updated CDC recommendations for booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Dear MCHB Partners:

On November 29, 2021, CDC updated its recommendations for booster doses of coronavirus vaccine, stating that:  

• Everyone age 18 and older who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine should get a booster shot at least 6 months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series
• Everyone age 18 and older who received Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine should get a booster shot at least 2 months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series
• People may choose which COVID-19 vaccine they receive as a booster shot. Some people may prefer the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots

CDC stated that studies have demonstrated the ability of booster shots to safely increase protection against infection and severe disease. CDC also noted that the recent emergence of the Omicron variant further stresses the importance of using all of our public health tools—vaccination, boosters, and other prevention efforts (masks, improving ventilation)—to strengthen our defenses against COVID-19 as we enter the winter holidays.

In addition to the CDC resources above, we wanted to make you aware of the HHS COVID-19 public education campaign, We Can Do This, which aims to increase public confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures such as mask wearing and social distancing.  The purpose of the campaign is to help the public make informed decisions about their health and COVID-19, including steps to protect themselves and their communities.

It is imperative that we continue to promote COVID-19 vaccines for MCH populations, including children, adolescents, and pregnant people.  As of late November, only 35% of pregnant people were fully vaccinated prior to or during pregnancy; that percentage is substantially less (21.5%) for non-Hispanic Black individuals.  We are making progress on child and adolescent vaccines.  Nearly 15% of children ages 5-11 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and over half (51.3%) of adolescents ages 12-17 are now fully vaccinated. 

MCHB encourages grantees and stakeholders to work with your state and local partners to:

• Continue to promote COVID-19 vaccines for all people age 5 and above, including pregnant people
• Promote COVID-19 vaccine boosters for all people 18 years and older
• Disseminate the We Can Do This campaign toolkit that includes outreach resources for COVID-19 vaccine boosters
• Assure equity in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines

Please reach out to your HRSA/MCHB Project Officer if you have any questions regarding COVID-19 vaccination.  Thank you for your efforts every day to improve the health of America’s mothers, children, and families.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Warren, MD, MPH, FAAP

Associate Administrator, Maternal and Child Health Bureau