FDA and CDC Announce New COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Recommendations

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued recommendations urging boosters of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine five months after completion of the primary vaccine series for individuals aged 12 and older. It also now recommends an additional dose of the Pfizer vaccine 28 days after completion of the primary series for certain immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years old. The CDC’s recommendations were in line with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announcement amending its emergency use authorization for the Pfizer booster.

Following the CDC’s announcement regarding Pfizer boosters, on Friday it announced it was also updating its recommendations for the Moderna booster for individuals five months after completion of their primary vaccine series. The FDA had also amended its emergency use authorization for Moderna boosters to shorten the period from six months to five months for individuals age 18 and over who have completed their primary vaccine series.