Coconino News

Coconino County issued the following announcement on Sept. 24.

On Thursday, September 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Comirnaty) in certain populations.

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On Thursday, September 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Comirnaty) in certain populations who received the first two doses of Pfizer vaccine. Late the same evening, the CDC Director endorsed the ACIP decision and added an additional group to the COVID-19 booster eligibility.

The following groups are approved to receive a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Comirnaty) if they received the first two doses of Pfizer vaccine:  

• people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series;
• people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series;
• people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and;
• people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

 Those seeking a Pfizer booster dose are asked to bring their COVID-19 vaccination card with them. The booster dose offers additional protection for those at increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease and is currently authorized only for those who received the Pfizer vaccine in their initial vaccine series. 

Coconino County Health and Human Services will not be offering Pfizer boosters to individuals who received a different brand of vaccine in their initial dose series. 

Moderna has submitted data to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the evaluation of a booster shot of its COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Johnson & Johnson is also expected to offer a booster dose if approved. The authorization of COVID-19 booster doses includes several steps involving the FDA and CDC. 

The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be remarkably effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including against the Delta variant. The vaccine provides highly effective protection against hospitalizations and severe outcomes for people who are fully vaccinated. 

Original source can be found here.