CDC Now Recommends Updated COVID-19 Vaccine

Following regulatory action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken steps to simplify COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and allow more flexibility for people at higher risk who want the option of added protection from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses.

On April 19, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met to discuss these COVID-19 vaccine recommendation changes, and the associated implications and implementation. Although there was no vote at this meeting, ACIP members expressed their support for these recommendations.

CDC’s new recommendations allow an additional updated (bivalent) vaccine dose for adults 65 years and older and additional doses for people who are immunocompromised. This allows more flexibility for healthcare providers to administer additional doses to immunocompromised patients as needed.

Monovalent (original) mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for use in the United States.

Individuals ages 6 years and older who have already received an updated mRNA vaccine do not need to take any action unless they are 65 years or older or immunocompromised.

Alternatives to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines remain available for people who cannot or will not receive an mRNA vaccine. CDC’s recommendations for use of (monovalent) Novavax or Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccines were not affected by these changes.

CDC and ACIP will continue to monitor COVID-19 disease levels and vaccine effectiveness and look forward to additional discussion around potential updates this fall.