AAFP Supports Expanded EUAs on Bivalent COVID-19 Boosters

The FDA amended the emergency use authorizations of the updated Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines on Dec. 8. Under the amended EUAs:

• Children ages 6 months through 5 years who received the original monovalent Moderna vaccine can receive a single booster dose of the updated bivalent vaccine two months after completing the primary series.
• Children ages 6 months through 4 years who have not yet begun their primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or have not yet received the third dose of the primary series will now receive the updated bivalent vaccine as the third dose following two doses of the original monovalent vaccine.
• Children ages 6 months through 4 years who have already completed the three-dose primary series of the original monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are not eligible for a booster dose of the updated bivalent vaccine; data on an updated bivalent booster dose for these children should be available in January.

The CDC announced the agency’s expansion for use of the bivalent booster vaccines in accordance with the amended EUAs on Dec. 9.

The Academy’s Commission on Health of the Public and Science approved the agencies’ steps Dec. 12 after reviewing evidence. The AAFP’s COVID-19 Vaccine webpage is updated with the latest information.

The Academy previously approved earlier federal action that allowed for use of the bivalent booster vaccines in children as young as age 5 years.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster vaccines include mRNA components that correspond to the original strain of SARS-CoV-2, as well as to omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.

Academy Resources Address Vaccine Hesitancy

While some parents remain hesitant to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19, the AAFP has created several resources to help members increase patient confidence. These include fact sheets and infographics, counseling guides and email templates, a CME series, an online COVID-19 member community and patient materials at familydoctor.org.

Additional resources are available from the CDC and HHS. Members are also encouraged to bookmark the AAFP’s COVID-19 webpage for the latest information.