Booster Doses

*Original Pfizer BioN-Tech and Moderna monovalent boosters are no longer authorized for use in any age group

All Delawareans ages 5+ who have received the primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for the new bivalent booster dose. Those 6 months to 5 years old who have received a Moderna primary series at least two months ago, can receive the bivalent booster. Individuals 6 months to 4 years old who have received the first two doses in the Pfizer primary series can receive the bivalent vaccine as a third primary series dose.

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be very effective when it comes to preventing hospitalizations and death, but effectiveness against getting the virus may be reduced over time largely due to the emergence of new variants. Bivalent boosters and vaccines increase the strength of your antibody response and your protection against COVID infection, hospitalization and deaths. The bivalent boosters and vaccines target two strains of COVID-19: the original strain of the virus, and two of the Omicron variants (BA.4 and BA.5), among the most widespread variants in the world.
See below to find out when you can boost your protection!

What’s the Latest News on Booster Doses?

*Updated 12/12/22
On Dec. 9, the US FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization to Moderna for the bivalent booster for ages 6 months – 5 years, and Pfizer for use as the third dose in the primary series for 6 months – 4 years of age, but not for use as a bivalent booster. See FDA press release here.

Those ages 5 and up were previously authorized for a Pfizer bivalent booster.

Specifically:

• Children 6 months through 5 years of age who received the original (monovalent) Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine are now eligible to receive a single booster of the updated (bivalent) Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine two months after completing a primary series with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
• Children 6 months through 4 years of age who have not yet begun their three-dose primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or have not yet received the third dose of their primary series will now receive the updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as the third dose in their primary series following two doses of the original (monovalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
• Children 6 months through 4 years of age who have already completed their three-dose primary series with the original (monovalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine will not be eligible for a booster dose of an updated bivalent vaccine at this time. Children in this age group who already completed their primary series would still be expected to have protection against the most serious outcomes from the currently circulating omicron variant.

Am I Eligible for a Booster Dose and Which One?

You are eligible for a bivalent booster dose if you:

• Are 5+ and it has been 2 months after your last dose of Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax (second dose, third dose, or booster dose) or 2 months since your initial dose of Johnson & Johnson.
  • J&J is only for those 18+ and Novavax is only for those 12+. Recipients of both brands for a primary series are recommended to get either a Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster. In addition, people who recently had SARS-CoV-2 infection may consider delaying a primary series dose or booster dose by 3 months from symptom onset or positive test (if infection was asymptomatic). Studies have shown that increased time between infection and vaccination may result in an improved immune response to vaccination. Also, a low risk of reinfection has been observed in the weeks to months following infection. Individual factors such as risk of COVID-19 severe disease, COVID-19 community level, or COVID-19 strain should be taken into account when determining whether to delay getting a COVID-19 vaccination after infection. Individuals should consult with their health care provider to make the best decision for them.
• Are 6 months+ and it has been at least two months since your last dose of Moderna. Pfizer is not currently authorized as a booster for those 6 months – 4 years, but can be used as the third dose in a primary series for this age group.

Other important information:

• Individuals may choose to receive either the Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster, regardless of which primary series vaccine or original booster dose they had previously (except for those under age 6 for Moderna).
• The original booster doses (the monovalent booster) are no longer authorized or available.
Booster doses are not yet authorized for those under age 5 who received all three doses of a Pfizer primary series. They are available for those 6 months to 4 years who have received only the first two doses of a Pfizer three-dose primary series
• There are similarities between the bivalent boosters, and the primary series vaccines for both certain Pfizer and Moderna products. Be an educated consumer and know what you need to look for:

• • How to Know Which Vaccine You are Getting (for patients/consumers)
  • Providers – Packaging Similarities Between Pfizer and Moderna Bivalent and Monovalent Products
• You are eligible for a monovalent Novavax booster dose if you:
  • Are 18+, it has been 6 months after your last dose of Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax (primary series only) or 2 months since your initial dose of Johnson & Johnson, and you have not received any other COVID booster.
  • This option is for those 18+ for whom an FDA-authorized mRNA bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine is not accessible or clinically appropriate or for those who would elect to otherwise not receive a booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.