COVID Vaccine Dosing Simplified

 

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration simplified the immunization schedule for people receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The FDA noted in its decision that most Americans 5 years of age and older now have some amount of antibody protection against SARS-CoV-2, from either getting vaccinated or getting sick from the virus:

“COVID-19 continues to be a very real risk for many people, and we encourage individuals to consider staying current with vaccination, including with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. The available data continue to demonstrate that vaccines prevent the most serious outcomes of COVID-19, which are severe illness, hospitalization, and death.”

 

The current bivalent vaccines are protective against both the original strain and Omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains and they will now be the only mRNA COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.S., replacing the original monovalent vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna.

Here are the changes:

• For unvaccinated adults and children 6 years of age and older: A single dose of a bivalent vaccine is all that is needed to be protected against serious symptoms and complications of COVID-19.

• For unvaccinated children 5-6 years old: Only one dose of Pfizer bivalent mRNA vaccine or two doses of Moderna’s bivalent mRNA vaccine will be necessary for adequate protection.

• For unvaccinated infants, toddlers, and preschoolers 6 months through 4 years of age: 3 doses of Pfizer bivalent vaccine or 2 doses of Moderna bivalent vaccine are needed.

• For monovalent-vaccinated people 6 years of age and older who haven’t yet received a bivalent mRNA vaccine: A single bivalent booster dose is highly recommended.

• For bivalent-vaccinated or bivalent-boosted people 6 to 64 years old: No additional doses are recommended at the moment.

• For bivalent-vaccinated or bivalent-boosted adults 65 years of age and older: A second bivalent vaccine at least 4 months after the first one can be given.

• For bivalent-vaccinated or bivalent-boosted immunocompromised children and adults: A single additional dose at least two months later can be given, as well as additional doses at the discretion of their health care provider.

• An annual booster dose of the bivalent mRNA vaccine is being considered for everyone 6 years of age and older. Like influenza vaccine, it will most likely be offered beginning in the fall.

The FDA hopes this simplified approach will encourage everyone to get vaccinated against the pandemic virus. Melissa Jenco recently looked to see where America’s COVID-19 vaccination status stands:

About 69% of the U.S. population has completed a COVID vaccine primary series. That includes about 62% of children ages 12-17 years, 33% of children ages 5-11 years, 6% of children ages 2-4 years and just under 5% of children under 2 years, according to CDC data. Less than 17% of the population has received a bivalent booster dose.

 

With new and more transmissible Omicron subvariants vying for dominance — XBB.1.16 accounted for nearly 12% of new infections in the U.S. last week — and a fall surge expected by infectious disease experts for later this year, it’s important for everyone to stay vigilant. Like we said last month:

There is no sense in delaying getting the vaccine or a booster until the next “variant of concern” comes along because new mutations that make the virus’s behavior less predictable are inevitable. So make sure your family is protected.

The “emergency” may be over, but the virus certainly isn’t.

 

 

source https://www.thepediablog.com/2023/05/02/covid-vaccine-dosing-simplified/