Last Friday, September 2, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) sent out the below notice to Ohio physician practices and other healthcare providers.
New bivalent mRNA COVID-19 boosters created to strengthen protection against the original COVID-19 strain and the currently circulating Omicron variant can be administered to Ohioans age 12 years and older as soon as practical after vaccine shipments arrive.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorizations for the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine boosters made by Pfizer-BioNTech (12 years +) and Moderna (18 years +). On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a mRNA bivalent booster for everyone age 12 years and older at least two months after completion of a primary vaccine series or at least two months after a booster dose. The bivalent mRNA vaccines are for booster doses only. Completion of a primary vaccine series (Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax) or single dose (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen) is required. Additional recommendations for timing of booster doses is anticipated from the CDC when updates to the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Considerations are completed.
These recommendations replace previous booster recommendations for people ages 12 years and older. Moving forward, everyone who is eligible for a booster will receive one booster dose. This new recommendation is regardless of the number of previous doses received, or individual risk factors such as age or medical condition.
In addition, the original (monovalent) mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized as booster doses for people ages 12 years and older. Any booster dose appointments scheduled for this age group should be rescheduled until shipments of the new bivalent booster have arrived.
Children ages 5 years through 11 years who received the Pfizer vaccine and have been eligible for boosters can continue to receive a booster of the same lower-dose formulation at least 5 months after completion of the primary series. There are no changes to the recommended COVID-19 vaccine schedules for children ages 6 months through 11 years.
ORDERING
Ohio vaccine providers who preordered the bivalent vaccines can begin vaccinations as soon as shipments arrive, and providers have had a chance to review storage, handling, and administration details found on the EUA fact sheets (linked below). Additional resources will be shared when available. Providers who placed preorders are urged to check their email messages for delivery updates from vaccine distributors. Shipment information also is available through the Vaccine Ordering Management System (VOMS). There will be no deliveries on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, 2022.
How to order bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters:
The Ohio Department of Health is again accepting orders for the bivalent boosters through VOMS.
RESOURCES FOR PROVIDERS:
The Ohio Department of Health is currently awaiting updated CDC clinical guidance for COVID-19 vaccines, including administration of booster doses, and will share updated resources for Ohio providers after reviewing that guidance.
The Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Provider website is a hub for a variety of resources for vaccine providers. Vaccine providers with questions may call the ODH Provider Call Center at 1-844-9ODHVAX (1-844-963-4829) between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or email COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov.