Health Advisory: CDC endorses second booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for certain groups

Requested Actions

• Be aware, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup endorsed Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) emergency use authorization (EUA) of a second booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for specific groups. The EUA allows:
  • A second booster dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first booster dose for people:
    • 50 years or older.
    • 12 years or older with a compromised immune system.
  • A second booster dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first booster dose for people:
    • 50 years or older.
    • 18 years or older with a compromised immune system.
  • Following newly published data, a second booster of either Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the primary and first booster dose of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for people:
    • 50 years or older.
    • 18 years or older with a compromised immune system.
  • Be aware, getting a second booster dose is particularly important for people:
    • 65 years or older.
    • 50 years or older with certain underlying medical conditions.
  • Be aware, at 8:59 p.m. PDT on April 5, 2022, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program will stop accepting vaccine administration claims due to lack of funds. Testing and treatment claims ended March 22, 2022.
    • Federally qualified health centers, rural health centers, free clinics, public hospital districts, behavioral health providers or facilities, behavioral health administrative service organizations, and community-based organizations can apply to receive federal resources for healthcare services provided to uninsured and underinsured individuals living under 200% of the federal poverty level (regardless of immigration status) through the Health Care Authority Uninsured Care Expansion Grant. Submit your application before 4:59 p.m. PDT on April 15, 2022.
  • Be aware, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) discontinued ordering Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage providers to post and look for available doses on Washington Immunization Information System’s (WAIIS’s) vaccine advertisement page. Email questions and concerns to vaccine@doh.wa.gov.
  • Teach patients how to access, use and interpret at-home COVID-19 test kits. Direct patients to the many COVID-19 testing sites in our communities.
    • Teach patients with mild to moderate illness how to care for themselves at home and when to go to the emergency department.
  • Evusheld is authorized for the emergency use as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for prevention of COVID-19 in certain adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg). Health care providers should only administer it to individuals who are not currently infected with SARS-CoV-2 and who have not had a known recent exposure to someone infected with SARS-CoV-2. Evusheld is only authorized for those:
    • who have moderate-to-severe immune compromise due to a medical condition or who have received immunosuppressive medications or treatments and may not mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination or
    • for whom vaccination with any available approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccine is not recommended due to a history of severe adverse reaction (e.g., severe allergic reaction) to a COVID-19 vaccine(s) and/or COVID-19 vaccine component(s).

 

COVID-19 testing

• K–12 test requirements to return to school.
• Antigen test guidance, CDC.

 

COVID-19 therapies

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allocates monoclonal antibodies and oral antivirals to each state. DOH distributes doses to enrolled providers. Providers must enroll in Healthcare Partner Ordering Portal (HPoP) to manage COVID-19 therapies. Email mcm@doh.wa.gov for support enrolling.

Once enrolled, to request a supply of monoclonal antibodies or therapeutics, complete a smart sheet.

Supplies of all therapies are currently limited. Commercial and independent pharmacies may have oral antivirals. Hospital-associated systems may have monoclonal antibodies. All therapies must be dispensed by prescription. Therapies from pharmacies may be intended for home delivery. Patients with questions about accessing their medication should call the pharmacy.

 

Additional Information

• HHS COVID-19 therapeutics locator for providers.
• DOH therapeutics for providers page.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) COVID-19 treatment guidelines.

 

COVID-19 prevention

Share with patients:

• What to do if you test positive for COVID-19.
• What to do if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19.

 

Immediately report COVID-19

Providers must fax positive lab results with demographic information to 509-381-3526.

Contacting the Health Department

Questions? Contact Yakima Health District at (509) 575-4040 or (800) 535-5016.

 

Additional Resources

CDC COVID-19 health equity resources.

Washington COVID-19 risk assessment dashboard.

CDC guidance for healthcare providers and facilities.

DOH COVID-19 data dashboard.

DOH COVID-19 page.

CDC COVID-19 page.

SARS-CoV-2 sequencing and variants in Washington.

FDA New Release: FDA authorizes revisions to Evusheld dosing

Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents and Caregivers Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab) for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers: Emergency Use Authorizations for Evusheld

Frequently Asked Questions on the Emergency Use Authorization for Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab) for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) of COVID-19