CDC Announces Vaccine Booster Shots for Older Adults and Immunocompromised Individuals

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that older adults aged 65 and older, as well as people with weakened immune systems, can now receive a second dose of the updated versions of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid booster shots.

The FDA authorized the changes on Tuesday, and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met to discuss the changes on Wednesday. The CDC’s move clears the way for eligible Americans to receive another round of the booster shots, which have been updated to include a “bivalent” recipe for the BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Omicron.

Most people who are immunocompromised can get an additional dose at least two months after their last dose, according to the agency. For those aged 65 and older, the second dose can be administered at least four months after the first.

The CDC’s announcement is good news for seniors, who have been particularly vulnerable to the virus. The agency has urged people to get vaccinated as soon as possible, as the vaccine is the best way to protect against the virus.

The CDC has also recommended that people who have already received their first dose of the vaccine wait at least two weeks before getting their second dose, to ensure that they are fully protected against the virus. It is important to note that the vaccine is not 100% effective, and people should still take precautions such as wearing a mask and social distancing to protect themselves and others.