On September 1, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations for use of updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for people ages 12 years and older and from Moderna for people ages 18 years and older.  The vaccines can now be administered to qualifying patients under the FDA issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

Updated COVID-19 boosters add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition, helping to restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination by targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune-evading.

• At-A-Glance COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule (Updated 9/2/2022)

The Moderna COVID-19 Omicron (bivalent) booster is authorized for use in individuals 18 years of age and older as a single booster dose administered at least 2 months after either:

• Completion of primary vaccination with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine, or
• Receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

Moderna COVID-19 Omicron (bivalent) boosters are supplied as a multidose vial with a dark blue cap and gray border label and administered as a 0.5 mL dose. 

The Pfizer COVID-19 Omicron (bivalent) booster is authorized for use in individuals 12 years of age and older as a single booster dose administered at least 2 months after either:

• Completion of primary vaccination with any authorized or approved
  monovalent1 COVID-19 vaccine, or

• Receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or
  approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

The Pfizer COVID-19 Omicron (bivalent) booster is currently supplied in a multidose vial with gray cap and label with gray border administered as a 0.3 mL dose. Do not dilute prior to use.

Storage/handling and additional information can be found in the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) found here

Pfizer EUA: https://bit.ly/PfizerOmicronEUA

Moderna EUA: https://bit.ly/ModernaOmicronEUA

As a reminder, If your pharmacy offers the original (monovalent) COVID-19 boosters for ages 12 years and older, halt immediately. However, those original mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) remain authorized and recommended for use as the primary series. 

The Interim Clinical Considerations for the Use of COVID-19 Vaccines will be updated in the next few days.  This information will be updated on the WV BOP website under FAQ COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ.

The COVID-19 Omicron (bivalent) booster does not have to be the same type as the primary series.  For example, if the patient had a Pfizer primary series, they may receive a Moderna COVID-19 Omicron (bivalent) booster.  While the primary series must be completed with the same vaccine, the booster dose can be different. 

The CDC recommends that everyone age 12 and up should get an updated COVID-19 booster this fall to stay up-to-date on vaccinations. The same is true for people who completed their primary series or received one or two boosters: they should get an updated booster dose at least two months after their last shot.

Some studies indicate that there may be an improved immune response with increased time between infection and vaccination.  Thus, individuals who recently had COVID-19 may consider delaying any COVID-19 vaccination, including the updated booster dose, by 3 months from the start of their symptoms or positive test.

These COVID-19 Omicron (bivalent) booster doses have started arriving in WV and will continue to do so over the next week.