You’ll hear lots of questions about updated COVID-19 boosters.
All boosters of Pfizer-BioNTech for patients age 12 and up and Moderna for 18 and up are now bivalent...with 2 mRNA components.
They’ll still cover the original SARS-CoV-2 virus...but also Omicron BA.4/BA.5, the variants currently circulating.
Be aware that a bivalent COVID-19 booster can be given to anyone age 12 and up if they’ve completed the primary series...and it’s been at least 2 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Keep in mind that the number of original monovalent boosters a person has had doesn’t affect whether to get an updated bivalent booster.
But UNvaccinated individuals still need a PRIMARY series with the original vaccines first...before a bivalent booster.
If your hospital gives COVID-19 bivalent vaccines, expect to dispense just ONE for a patient...additional boosters aren’t recommended, even for immunocompromised patients.
Anticipate orders for whichever age-appropriate bivalent booster you have in stock.
Draw up 0.3 mL (30 mcg) for Pfizer-BioNTech or 0.5 mL (50 mcg) for Moderna bivalent boosters. Stay alert for errors.
Don’t be surprised if clinicians urge eligible patients at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (age over 65, immunocompromised, etc) to get an updated booster promptly.
But it’s okay if a lower-risk patient prefers to wait 3 months after COVID-19 infection to get boosted...to try to stretch out immunity.
Clinicians will also address questions about efficacy or safety of the updated COVID-19 boosters.
Human data for COVID-19 vaccines with Omicron BA.1...and animal data with BA.4/BA.5...show a better immune response against Omicron versus another original monovalent booster.
And side effects are expected to be similar.
Use our resource, COVID-19 Vaccines, for info on doses, storage, etc.
- https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/slides-2022-09-01-02.html (9-29-22)
- https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/summary-interim-clinical-considerations.pdf (9-29-22)
- https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-moderna-pfizer-biontech-bivalent-covid-19-vaccines-use (9-29-22)