The New York State Department of Health (DOH) has issued updated guidance for the statewide COVID-19 vaccination program to reflect revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emergency use authorization for booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for all individuals age 18 or older who received their primary vaccine series at least six months previously.
The guidance and below summary apply to providers offering COVID-19 vaccinations to adolescents age 12 and older and adults.
Per the CDC’s recommendations and the updated DOH guidance, the following individuals are eligible for a single booster dose six months or more after the mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) initial vaccine series:
- Age 50 and older
- Age 18 and older who live in long-term care settings
- Immunocompromised persons
- All other persons 18 years of age or older
Additionally, all individuals age 18 or older who previously received a single-dose Janssen primary series at least two months ago should receive a booster dose.
The guidance also details vaccine expiration and beyond-use dates, considerations for individuals receiving COVID-19 vaccine outside the United States, considerations for preparation of the Moderna booster, and a reminder to providers to complete the appropriate vaccine forms for each patient. GNYHA encourages COVID-19 vaccine providers to thoroughly review the attached guidance.