Updated Guidance to COVID-19 Vaccines (SNF/AL) 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended emergency use authorizations to recommend bivalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines be used for all doses administered to any individual age 6 months and older. Monovalent COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for use in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices supports these recommendations. 

Individuals who were previously vaccinated with monovalent COVID-19 vaccine, and who have not received a dose of bivalent vaccine, may receive a single dose of bivalent vaccine. Individuals who have already received a single dose of bivalent may not be currently eligible for another dose; however, the CDC recommendations allow for an additional updated (bivalent) vaccine dose for adults aged 65 and older and additional doses for people who are immunocompromised.

For newly hired staff or those who choose to accept a vaccination, a single dose of the bivalent vaccine is considered fully vaccinated under the CDC definition. For more information on who should receive a vaccine and when, including information on those who are immunocompromised, visit CDC.gov.