#17,931
Yesterday the CDC's ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) - after reviewing the evidence - recommended people 65 and older receive an additional dose of the current monovalent COVID-19 vaccine this spring.
Late yesterday the CDC published the following statement in support of that recommendation.
Older Adults Now Able to Receive Additional Dose of Updated COVID-19 Vaccine
Media Statement
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
Today, CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for adults ages 65 years and older to receive an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose. The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults, along with the currently available data on vaccine effectiveness.
Previous CDC recommendations ensured that people who are immunocompromised are already eligible for additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Data continues to show the importance of vaccination to protect those most at risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19. An additional dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine may restore protection that has waned since a fall vaccine dose, providing increased protection to adults ages 65 years and older.
Adults 65 years and older are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, with more than half of COVID-19 hospitalizations during October 2023 to December 2023 occurring in this age group.
CDC and ACIP will continue to monitor COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness. CDC continues to recommend that everyone stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, especially people with weakened immune systems.
The following is attributable to Dr. Mandy Cohen:
“Today’s recommendation allows older adults to receive an additional dose of this season’s COVID-19 vaccine to provide added protection,” said Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H. “Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk.”
ACIP will meet in June to review the evidence for next fall's vaccine as illustrated by the following two slides from yesterday's Next Steps for the COVID-19 Vaccine Program presentation.
