FDA and CDC Updates and Simplifies use of COVID-19 Vaccines

Bivalent vaccines now authorized for all doses administered; 2^nd bivalent booster available for certain individuals

Media Contact: Mike Bordogna, County Manager, (970) 728-3844, mikeb@sanmiguelcountyco.gov

Grace Franklin, Public Health Director, (970) 728-4289, gracef@sanmiguelcountyco.gov

(April 20, 2023) — San Miguel County, CO. —This week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved a simplified COVID vaccination schedule for most individuals. This action includes authorizing the current bivalent vaccines to be used for all doses administered to individuals 6 months of age and older, including for an additional dose for certain populations. The monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States.

Most individuals who have already received a single dose of the bivalent vaccine are not currently eligible for another dose. The FDA intends to make decisions about future vaccination after receiving recommendations on the fall strain composition at an FDA advisory committee in June. 

Individuals who have not received any covid vaccines to date, may now receive a single dose of a bivalent vaccine, rather than multiple doses of the original monovalent mRNA vaccines, with the exception of children 6 months to 5 years of age will continue a two or three-dose covid vaccine series with the bivalent vaccine.

Those eligible for a second dose of a bivalent COVID vaccine include:

• Individuals 65 years of age and older who have received a single dose of a bivalent vaccine may receive one additional dose at least four months following their initial bivalent dose. 
• Most individuals with certain kinds of immunocompromise who have received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may receive a single additional dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months following a dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.
• People aged 6 years and older who are not immunocompromised should receive one updated (bivalent) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether or not they completed their monovalent primary series.  

“The primary purpose of vaccines is to prevent severe disease and death,” say Public Health Director Grace Franklin. “Approving an additional vaccine to priority populations will keep our communities healthy and keep people out of the hospital.”

Public Health will continue to host weekly covid vaccine clinics at the Telluride office every Wednesday, 2-4 p.m. The State COVID vaccine bus will be in Telluride on May 8 and Norwood, and Egnar on May 9 with all authorized vaccines. More information about COVID vaccine clinics can be found on the San Miguel County Public Health website.