Workgroup Recommends Boosters for 65+ and Vulnerable Groups

The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup recently completed its review of the federal process and has recommended a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months after the primary vaccination series for people older than 65 and those at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The Workgroup provided its confirmation to the governors of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

In addition to people 65 and older, the Workgroup recommended people living in long-term care facilities and people 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions who received the Pfizer vaccine should receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine after six months.

In addition, the Workgroup recommended the following groups of people ages 18 to 64 who received the Pfizer vaccine may also receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine after six months:

People with underlying medical conditions and those who are at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to occupational or institutional setting.

The Workgroup strongly endorsed the CDC’s recognition that longstanding health and social inequities have increased the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and recommended that social determinants of vulnerability be included in the assessment of medical conditions that qualify individuals for booster doses. Because unvaccinated individuals remain at much higher risk of COVID-19 than vaccinated individuals, the Workgroup also reiterated that its members strongly support vaccination for everyone 12 years of age and older.

Recognizing that only Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines have been authorized for booster doses, the Workgroup implored the FDA and CDC to quickly find solutions to sustain the protection of the most vulnerable individuals who have received a Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.