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Posted on: May 16, 2023

FDA updates COVID-19 vaccine recommendations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated COVID-19 vaccination recommendations April 18.

This action authorized bivalent vaccines to be used for all doses for those 6 month of age and older, including an additional dose(s) for certain populations. The monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the U.S.

What you need to know:

Most individuals, depending on age, previously vaccinated with a monovalent COVID-19 vaccine who have not yet received a dose of a bivalent vaccine may receive a single dose of a bivalent vaccine.
Most individuals who have already received a single dose of the bivalent vaccine are not currently eligible for another dose.
Individuals 65 years of age and older who have received a single dose of a bivalent vaccine may receive one additional dose at least four months following their initial bivalent dose.
Most individuals with certain kinds of immunocompromise who have received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may receive a single additional dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months following a dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, and additional doses may be administered at the discretion of, and at intervals determined by, their healthcare provider.
Most unvaccinated individuals may receive a single dose of a bivalent vaccine, rather than multiple doses of the original monovalent mRNA vaccines.
Children 6 months through 5 years of age who are unvaccinated may receive a two-dose series of the Moderna bivalent vaccine (6 months through 5 years of age) OR a three-dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine (6 months through 4 years of age). Children who are 5 years of age may receive two doses of the Moderna bivalent vaccine or a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine.
Children 6 months through 5 years of age who have received one, two or three doses of a monovalent COVID-19 vaccine may receive a bivalent vaccine. The number of doses that they receive will depend on the vaccine and their vaccination history.

Rice County Public Health offers Moderna bivalent vaccines for those ages 6 months and older.

Vaccination clinics are held from 1–4 p.m. every Tuesday at Rice County Public Health, 320 Third St. NW, Faribault. Walk-in COVID-19 vaccines are available from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call Public Health at 507-332-6111 for more information.

Vaccination clinics are also held at other locations throughout Rice County. Check our website for other upcoming vaccination clinic locations at www.ricecountymn.gov/528/COVID-19-vaccinations

Unsure if you are up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines? Call Marie at 507-332-5928 or Angie at 507-384-6450 for assistance, or find out more at mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/index.jsp.