DHS Supports Second COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose for Adults 50 Years and Older and Certain Immunocompromised Individuals
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports the option that adults ages 50 years and older receive a second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after having received their first booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
DHS also supports the option of a second booster dose for certain, immunocompromised people ages 12 years and older. This would include the option of a second booster dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 12 years and older or a second booster dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 18 years and older.
The FDA determined that the known and potential benefits of a second COVID-19 vaccine booster dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines outweigh their known and potential risks in these populations. The evidence considered for authorization of a second booster dose following primary vaccination and first booster dose included safety and immune response information provided to the agency as well as additional information on effectiveness submitted by the companies.
The CDC also expanded eligibility in their clinical guidance for another booster dose to people ages 18–49 years who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised and who received Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary series dose and booster dose. These individuals may now receive a second booster dose at least four months after having received their first booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
Finally, the CDC guidance provided further clarification of safety issues including those related to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and adults (MIS-A) and myocarditis.
The FDA authorized and the CDC issued expanded eligibility supporting the FDA authorization. The CDC Interim Clinical Considerations were published on March 30 to reflect these changes as well as added guidance regarding some adults that received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, and a further clarification of safety issues including those related to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and adults (MIS-A) and myocarditis.
DHS supports:
- A second booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to adults ages 50 years and older at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine.
- A second booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to people 12 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. These are people who have undergone solid organ transplantation, or who are living with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise.
- A second booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered at least 4 months after the first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine to people ages 18 years and older with the same certain kinds of immunocompromise.
- A second booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to people ages 18-49 years who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised and who received Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary series dose and booster dose at least 4 months after their first Johnson & Johnson booster dose.
CDC Clinical Considerations
The updated CDC Clinical Considerations were released.
Updated Emergency Use Authorizations
Immunization Policy and Procedure Manual
The Immunization Program Policy and Procedure (P&P) Manual will be updated the week of April 4. Local Health Departments (LHDs) must wait until DHS updates the P&P Manual on SharePoint before giving second booster doses to the individuals detailed above. All other vaccinators can start vaccinating in accordance with the updated clinical guidance from CDC.
Staying Up to Date with Vaccines
We ask you to encourage folks to stay up to date on all their vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine.
It is important to for Wisconsinites to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and receive all recommended doses, when eligible.
Primary Series Vaccination
We urge you to continue conversations with folks who are not yet vaccinated.
While booster doses are an important step in increasing access to enhanced protection for people across Wisconsin, there remains large populations of people who are unvaccinated and who are at risk of serious illness and death.
We need a strong continued focus on increasing primary vaccination. You can find a number of resources to support these conversations on the DHS COVID-19 Vaccine Partner and Vaccinator Resources webpage.
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