Clinical Updates: OLDER ADULTS NOW ABLE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL DOSE OF UPDATED COVID-19 VACCINE

OLDER ADULTS NOW ABLE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL DOSE OF UPDATED COVID-19 VACCINE

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. 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 CDC now recommends thatadults ages 65 years and older 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. View the Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines page for the latest recommendation language for all ages. 

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 now offers a new Respiratory Viruses and Older Adults resource webpage.

See the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) February 28-29 presentation slides for additional information.

Questions? Contact Covid.Vaccine@doh.wa.gov.