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Community > Press Releases > FDA Authorizes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines for Use as a Booster Dose
FDA Authorizes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines for Use as a Booster Dose

Published: 9/2/2022

On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to authorize bivalent formulations of the vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination.  On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations for use of the updated COVID-19 boosters.
 
Effective immediately, the original monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use as boosters in individuals 12 years of age and older.  The new shipment of updated boosters is expected to arrive this week, and Licking Memorial COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic is working to reschedule existing booster appointments.
 
The BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant are currently causing most cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and are predicted to circulate this fall and winter.  The bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, or updated booster, includes an mRNA component of the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and an mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages.  The updated boosters will provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and will also provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.
 
Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
 
Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.