COVID-19 Booster Shots: A News Round-Up from the CDC, HHS and CMS

Last week, after reviewing the latest data and science from an independent advisory panel to the FDA, acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock amended FDA’s emergency-use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to allow a single booster dose, to be administered for individuals 65 years of age and older, as well as in populations at high risk due to underlying medical conditions or due to institutional or occupational exposure, such as health care workers, teachers and prisons.

In addition to the amended EUA, the CDC determined that:    

  • 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 atleast 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.

Please note that the recommendations above only apply to people who have received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination, they do not apply to people who have received Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccinations.

As before, all eligible people can receive their booster shot at no cost. CMS released a statement, excerpted below:

Beneficiaries with Medicare pay nothing for COVID-19 vaccines or their administration, and there is no applicable copayment, coinsurance or deductible. In addition, thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), nearly all Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries must receive coverage of COVID-19 vaccines and their administration, without cost-sharing. COVID-19 vaccines and their administration, including boosters, will also be covered without cost-sharing for eligible consumers of most issuers of health insurance in the commercial market. People can visit vaccines.gov (English) or vacunas.gov (Spanish) to search for vaccines nearby.