09/02/22 Health Advisory: Bivalent Vaccine Booster for COVID-19

| September 2, 2022
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Be aware:

  • Moderna and Pfizer created bivalent formulations of their mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
    • The bivalent vaccines target the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
  • United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to the bivalent vaccines for use as a single booster dose.
    • People can get a bivalent vaccine booster dose (also called “updated booster”) at least 2 months after they complete their primary series or get a previous booster dose.
    • Moderna bivalent vaccine is authorized for people 18 years or older.
    • Pfizer bivalent vaccine is authorized for people 12 years or older.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not yet recommended the bivalent vaccine. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will meet Sept. 1–2 to discuss and vote whether to recommend.
    • If CDC recommends, Western State Scientific Safety Review Workgroup will meet to discuss and vote whether to recommend for use in Washington.
  • FDA removed its authorization of current (monovalent) Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines for use as booster doses in people 12 years or older.
    • As of Aug. 31, you may no longer give current (monovalent) Moderna and Pfizer vaccines as booster doses to people 12 years or older.
      • Reschedule existing booster dose appointments for people 12 years or older for when bivalent vaccine booster doses are available.
    • You can still give current (monovalent) Moderna and Pfizer vaccines:
      • As booster doses to children 5–11 years old.
      • As a primary series to people 6 months or older.
    • Retain your current vaccine supply and use the vaccine marketplace to shift primary series doses to areas of need.

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