The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved another round of the bivalent booster shots for those over 65 years old and individuals who are immunocompromised.
These CDC recommendations this week allows flexibility for healthcare providers to administer additional doses to certain patients as needed.
“I think this was all due and all good that this is coming out now, because we have a lot of high-risk people that don't really have great protection right now because they weren't eligible for a second booster because it wasn't authorized yet,” said Graham McKeen, the assistant director of IU’s Public and Environmental Health. “So, I'm glad we're getting to where we are.”
With new bivalent vaccinations available, monovalent COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for use in the U.S.
The updated bivalent vaccine is recommended for everyone ages 6 years and older, regardless of whether they received their primary monovalent series.
McKeen said the CDC will provide more updates on vaccine recommendations in the summer.
“[The CDC is] going meet in June, then [they are] going select what that vaccine will be. [They will] produce it,” McKeen said. “Then everyone and their mom should be eligible for the new shot sometime this fall, probably around the same time as an annual influenza vaccine.”
Those who have already received an updated bivalent vaccine do not need to take any action unless they are 65 years or older or immunocompromised.
