Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
On October 12, 2022, the FDA amended the emergency use authorizations for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to authorize a single-dose bivalent booster for younger age groups. This amendment expanded bivalent vaccine administration to those aged 5- to 11-year-old.
The single-dose Pfizer-BioNTech booster is now authorized for use in children, age 5 through 11 years old, at least two months after receiving their primary vaccine series. The single-dose Moderna booster is now authorized for use in children, age 6 through 17 years old, at least two months after receiving their primary vaccine series The monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is no longer authorized as a booster dose for those 5 years and older.
The bivalent booster dose includes two different mRNA components of the SARS-COV-2 virus. One mRNA component is the original strain and the other is the BA.4 and BA.5 lineage of the omicron variant. The original strain, which is included in the monovalent primary series vaccine, is broadly protective. Whereas the omicron strain is included to provide protection against BA.4 and BA.5, which are more infectious and less susceptible to the original vaccine due to the mutation on the SARS-COV-2 spike protein. The majority of COVID-19 cases are currently due to the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages, which are predicted to continue to circulate this fall and winter.
Key Points:
- Pfizer-BioNTech single dose bivalent COVID-19 booster dose authorized for ages 5 & older
- Moderna single dose bivalent COVID-19 booster dose authorized for ages 6 & older
- Monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster dose no longer authorized for ages 5 & older
Additional guidance is linked below for clinical reference on the new booster dose. The USET TEC is available to assist with any questions or concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact us at usetepi@usetinc.org.
Sources
Expanded Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Age 5 and Up
Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines
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