On August 31, 2022, the FDA approved both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The CDC gave their approval on September 1, 2022. These vaccines contain mRNA components of both the original vaccine and the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron, which are expected to cause the most issues this coming fall and winter. The Pfizer vaccine is approved for patients 12 and up, and the Moderna is approved for patients 18 years old and up.
To be eligible for this updated booster, it has to be at least 2 months from either the completion of the primary series of any monovalent vaccine (the original Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson vaccines) OR at least 2 months from the last booster of any of the monovalent vaccines.
This updated booster will replace the prior authorized monovalent vaccines as boosters. Those can still be given for a primary series, but will no longer be used for boosters in patients 12 and older.
We will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. It is now available for our patients who meet the criteria above.
If you have specific questions or concerns about the vaccine and would like to discuss with your provider, we encourage you to schedule a telemedicine appointment.
To schedule your vaccine, please call the office at 978-774-2555.