Argentum Infection Prevention & Control Announcements

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized a single booster dose for all individuals 18 and older who have had their primary vaccinations. The booster would be given six months after the primary series with Moderna or Pfizer, and two months after Johnson & Johnson.

CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky gave the go-ahead for vaccination of 5- to 11-year-olds against COVID-19, following the recommendations of the FDA and the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (APIC).

The CDC has updated guidance for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised: 

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee has recommended authorization of Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine for ages 5 to 11.  

The CDC has expanded booster eligibility and its recommendations to include “mix and match” dosing—receiving a booster of a different type from the primary vaccine.  

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday amended its emergency use authorizations for several actions regarding booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including allowing the use of heterologous, or “mix and match” booster doses: using a different type of vaccine from the primary dose for a booster dose.

An FDA independent expert panel has recommended people 18 and older have a booster shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and that it be given at least two months after the first shot. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was given as a single dose. 

Today an FDA independent advisory panel met and voted unanimously to recommend Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be given six months after full vaccination for those 65 and older, those at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, and those ages 18 to 64 whose job or other settings put them at risk for complications or severe illness.

Argentum's latest publication, COVID-19 Booster and Flu Vaccination Considerations for Senior Living Communities, gathers recent considerations regarding CDC recommendations on who should and may receive booster shots and when, as well as a list of planning and implementation considerations for flu and COVID-19 booster vaccine clinics and other vaccine administration for senior living communities.

This morning, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky endorsed Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for people 65 years of age and older and residents in long-term care settings, as well as people 18 years of age and older with underlying medical conditions. Additionally, she approved boosters for those over 18 who are at increased risk due to an occupational or institutional setting. While we are waiting for official guidance from the CDC, it should be noted that OSHA’s definition of high-risk workplaces includes those working in assisted living and continuing care retirement communities and as such, those employees could be covered under this endorsement.