CDC vaccine advisers recommend second COVID vaccine dose for seniors, immune-compromised

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) vaccine advisory group right this moment beneficial a second 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine dose, spaced 6 months aside, for folks ages 65 and older and for folks in youthful age-groups who’ve reasonable or extreme immunocompromising circumstances.

The group additionally beneficial an additional dose, three or extra, in folks with immunocompromising circumstances, based mostly on shared decision-making between affected person and physician.

The advice replaces a vaguer “extra doses” wording that the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) utilized in its recommendation over the summer season for at-risk teams for the 2024-25 vaccines. The group made the change to simplify and standardize language used for its routine immunization schedules. 

The three-part vote handed unanimously.

Challenges in sustaining safety

The ACIP work group that proposed the advice grappled with a number of components, together with a scarcity of seasonality of SARS-CoV-2 circulation, the epidemiology of the illness, waning vaccine effectiveness, and variant adjustments. 

Vaccine timing has turn out to be complicated, particularly given tough-to-predict waves involving new COVID variants that typically spike in warm-weather months, after safety from vaccination within the fall months has waned, however earlier than up to date vaccines arrive available on the market. For instance, over the previous spring and summer season, COVID exercise circulated at a excessive stage over many months. 

Hospitalization charges from COVID stay larger in seniors, particularly these ages 75 and older.

In accordance with the CDC’s newest knowledge for the final respiratory illness season, 40% of adults ages 65 and older acquired one dose of the vaccine and eight.9% acquired a second dose, with second-dose ranges larger in folks in city areas and in sure geographic areas. CDC consultants advised the group {that a} healthcare supplier advice helped sway sufferers to obtain a second dose.

In the meantime, second-dose protection in immunocompromised folks ages 18 and older was decrease, at 5.4%.

Additional flexibility for immunocompromised teams

Additionally, together with the overall two-dose advice for immunocompromised folks ages 6 months to 64 years, in a transfer to create extra flexibility with COVID vaccination, ACIP beneficial extra doses—three or extra—of the 2024-25 vaccine in folks ages 6 months and older who’re reasonably to severely immunocompromised with shared scientific decision-making. 

CDC consultants beneficial a minimal 2-month vaccination interval to permit for flexibility based mostly on the affected person’s dangers and circumstances.

The CDC director considers ACIP suggestions earlier than making a proper advice.