New Omicron COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Boosters Approved
Posted Sept. 22, 2022. Past health advisories and alerts are archived for historical purposes and are not maintained or updated.
SRHD’s Immunization Assessment & Promotion Program would like to clarify some of the recent changes in the administration of the COVID-19 booster doses.
What has changed?
- The new boosters are single dose bivalent vaccines that combine the original COVID-19 vaccine with BA.4 and BA.5 variant protection.
- Note: The primary COVID-19 vaccine series remains unchanged (monovalent vaccine).
- Monovalent boosters are no longer authorized for persons aged 12+ years old. (They should receive a bivalent booster instead.)
When to administer?
- Patients must complete the primary series with a monovalent COVID-19 vaccine before they can receive a bivalent booster.
- Bivalent boosters may be given at least two months after completion of primary series or most recent booster shot.
- Please note the immunocompromised primary series is still elongated and must be completed prior to administering the new bivalent booster.
Who can receive a bivalent booster?
- Persons aged 12-17 years can receive the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster.
- Persons aged 18+ years can receive either Moderna or Pfizer bivalent booster.
- Please note Novavax recipients are now eligible for the new boosters.
Who cannot receive a bivalent booster?
- Persons aged 5-11 years should continue to receive monovalent booster, given 5 months after most recent dose.
- Persons aged 6 months – 4 years are not authorized for any COVID-19 booster.
Important Notes:
- Pfizer Bivalent boosters can be requested from SRHD’s COVID-19 Vaccine Depot. Please complete the Covid Vaccine Depot Form (srhd.org) to place an order.
- Moderna Bivalent booster orders are postponed until further notice due to production issues.
- Please review the updated vaccination schedules from CDC.