RRH COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters Update (10/5/21)

RRH continues to schedule eligible patients for Pfizer BioNTech (also now known as Comirnaty®) boosters. The Pfizer/ Comirnaty boosters are a 3rd dose in the vaccine series, being given 6 months after completion of the 1st and 2nd dose series.

The “Pfizer BioNTech” and “Pfizer Comirnaty” vaccines are biologically and chemically the same thing. Once Pfizer received full FDA approval for 1st and 2nd doses for persons 16+, the company was allowed to begin marketing the vaccine with an official name, Comirnaty.

There are currently numerous ongoing clinical trials for different applications and age groups. The Pfizer/Comirnaty booster is currently under EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) for the following groups:

• Booster / 3rd dose for ages 18 and older
• 1st and 2nd doses for ages 12-15

The following populations SHOULD RECEIVE a Pfizer/Comirnaty booster shot 6 months following their second dose of their Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine:

• People 65 years and older;
• Residents in long-term care settings; and
• People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions.

The following populations MAY CONSIDER a Pfizer/Comirnaty booster shot 6 months following their second dose of their Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine:

People aged 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions; and

People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting.

For a comprehensive list of eligible medical conditions see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html.

For those who received Moderna or J&J, no booster is authorized at this time, although the FDA are expected to review both vaccines in the coming weeks. RRH will be required to wait for final recommendation review and authorization from CDC ACIP before administering Moderna or J&J boosters.

We will continue to provide updates as we learn more.