The CDC updated and simplified its vaccine recommendations on April 19, 2023, and the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA bivalent COVID-19 vaccines should be used for all vaccinations in the US.
COVID-19 vaccines
(Adobe Stock, unknown)
This article first appeared on our sister brand, Contagionlive.com.
Following the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization on April 18, 2023, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has significantly changed its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.
The most significant update is that the FDA and CDC now recommend that the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA bivalent mRNA vaccines (original and Omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains) be used for all future vaccinations in the US. This means both agencies are officially moving away from the initial, monovalent COVID-19 vaccines.
The CDC now recommends:
Immunocompromised individuals may be eligible to receive additional doses of a bivalent vaccine, even if they have already. Individuals with comorbidities or otherwise immunocompromised should consult a health care provider to determine their needs and ensure they can mount an adequate immune response to vaccination.
The new regulations were announced tonight, April 19, after the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met to discuss these changes to their COVID-19 vaccine recommendation.
Most individuals who have already received a single dose of the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster are only eligible for another dose if they are immunocompromised or 65 years and older. The FDA will likely announce future vaccination recommendations after determining fall’s vaccine strain composition in their June advisory meeting.
Alternative options are still available for individuals unable to receive an updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. Today's decision did not affect the CDC’s recommendation of the (monovalent) Novavax or Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccines.
Keep up with COVID-19 on Infection Control Today®.
Invisible, Indispensable: The Vital Role of AHRQ in Infection Prevention
March 25th 2025With health care systems under strain and infection preventionists being laid off nationwide, a little-known federal agency stands as a last line of defense against preventable patient harm. Yet the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is now facing devastating cuts—threatening decades of progress in patient safety.
Redefining Material Compatibility in Sterilization: Insights From AAMI TIR17:2024
March 24th 2025AAMI TIR17:2024 provides updated, evidence-based guidance on material compatibility with sterilization modalities. It offers essential insights for medical device design and ensures safety without compromising functionality.
The Guardians of Animal Health: Who Are Veterinary Infection Preventionists?
March 21st 2025Veterinary infection control experts Leslie Kollmann, BS, AAS, CVT, CIC, Denise Waiting, LVT, and Leslie Landis, LVT, BS, discuss challenges, zoonotic disease risks, and the importance of education, collaboration, and resource development in animal care facilities.