New COVID-19 Eligibility

On March 29, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for adults ages 50 years and older and for certain immunocompromised individuals under emergency use authorization (EUA). The FDA previously authorized a single booster dose for certain immunocompromised individuals following completion of a three-dose primary vaccination series. This action now makes a second booster dose of these vaccines available to other populations at higher risk for severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

Additionally, on May 19, 2022, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to expand eligibility of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to persons ages 5 years and older. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expanded eligibility of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to all persons ages 5 years and older. After the May 19 vote, CDC now recommends that children ages 5–11 years should receive a booster shot five months after their initial Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination series. The CDC is also strengthening its recommendation for persons ages 12 years and older who are immunocompromised and persons ages 50 years and older by recommending a second booster dose at least four months after their first.

The FDA has amended the EUA as follows:

• A single Pfizer-BioNTech (10 µg) COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for persons ages 5–11 years at least five months after the primary series, under the FDA’s EUA.
• A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to persons ages 50 years and older at least four months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine.
• A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to persons ages 12 years and older with certain immunocompromising conditions at least four months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. These are people who have undergone solid organ transplantation or are living with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromising conditions.
• A second booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered at least four months after the first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine to persons ages 18 years and older with the same immunocompromising conditions.

Currently, individuals 5 years of age and older are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and booster for protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The CDC released this information on the Interim Clinical Considerations Web page. For questions related to the above information, please review the Interim Clinical Considerations Web page for CDC updates pertaining to COVID-19 vaccinations and booster dose recommendations.