Western States Safety Workgroup Recommends Pfizer Booster for 12 and Older

The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup completed its review of the federal process and recommended expanding Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose eligibility to anyone 12 years of age and older who completed the primary vaccination series at least five months ago. The Workgroup also confirmed the federal authorization of a third vaccine dose for certain immunocompromised children ages 5 to 11. The Workgroup recently provided its confirmation to the governors of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

The Workgroup recommended the following actions regarding the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine:

• Expand the use of a single Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose to include use in individuals 12 through 15 years old
• Shorten the time between the completion of primary vaccination of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose to at least five months
• Allow for a third primary series dose for certain immunocompromised children 5 through 11 years old

On January 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the expanded use of the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot and the CDC affirmed those decisions.

Washington, Oregon and Nevada joined California’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup in October 2020. The workgroup, made up of scientists with expertise in immunization and public health, concurrently and independently reviewed the FDA’s actions related to COVID-19 vaccines. It will continue to evaluate other COVID-19 vaccines moving through the federal process.