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.

Walensky’s approval for boosters for at-risk workers strayed from the recommendations made and voted on by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a CDC advisory panel, on Thursday afternoon. Those who voted “no” for at-risk workers signaled a lack of evidence to support that people were at higher risk of severe COVID-19 due to their profession.

Earlier in the week, the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee met and voted unanimously to recommend Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to be given six months after full vaccination for those 65 and older and those at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19. They also informally suggested that health care workers be considered for the booster dose. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine received full FDA approval for those 16 years of age and older on August 23, 2021.

We will keep you updated on the latest details as we learn of them.