Following FDA’s regulatory action on March 29, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 vaccination guidance to give some individuals the option to receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. 

These individuals include: 

• People ages 50 years and older who received an initial COVID-19 booster dose (regardless of which vaccine was used) at least 4 months ago; 
• People ages 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised who received an initial COVID-19 booster dose (regardless of which vaccine was used) at least 4 months ago; and
• People ages 18 years and older who received both a primary dose and a booster dose of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago.  

COVID-19 vaccines continue to offer high levels of protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death—especially for individuals who have received an initial boost. We continue to encourage people ages 5 years and older who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 to get vaccinated as soon as possible and remain up to date on their immunization, including receiving an initial booster dose when eligible.

Please see links to the new studies and accompanying resources below:    

• CDC Director’s Statement
• MMWR
• Interim Clinical Considerations
• Protection by 4th dose of BNT162b2 against Omicron in Israel (medrxiv.org)
• 4th Dose COVID mRNA Vaccines’ Immunogenicity & Efficacy Against Omicron VOC (medrxiv.org)