CDC Approves Additional Boosters and Mixing/Matching of Vaccines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines on Oct. 21st. The State's Oct. 23rd vaccination provider guidance addressing the newly authorized boosters, mixing and matching of vaccines, expiration and beyond use date information, and more is available here.
The Moderna booster will follow the same eligibility restrictions as the Pfizer booster:
- Age 65+
- Age 18+ who live in long term care settings
- Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
- Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings
Members should note that the booster dose for Moderna will be .25 mL, half of one of the primary doses. LeadingAge NY will provide members with more details on this nuance and any of its implications when more information becomes available.
Anyone who has received the Johnson & Johnson one shot will be eligible for a booster two months after their primary shot.
In addition, according to the CDC press release, mixing and matching boosters is now possible:
"There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots."
The CDC will next be considering approving vaccines for the age 5-12 population and then looking at expanding mRNA boosters to a broader segment of the population.
COVID-19 Vaccination Program Enrollment Webinar to Be Held Wed., Oct. 27th
The Department of Health (DOH) will be hosting a COVID-19 Vaccination Program Enrollment Webinar for health care provider locations outside of New York City (NYC) on Wed., Oct. 27, 2021 from 12 to 1 p.m. Registration for the webinar is available here. The State indicates that this program is more flexible now. LeadingAge NY will report on any new information provided in the presentation.
The webinar will provide a high-level overview of the enrollment process, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. As a reminder, this webinar is designated for provider locations outside of NYC only. Attendees are asked to review the DOH COVID-19 Vaccination Program Enrollment Letter, as well as the linked resources within, prior to the webinar.
Medicaid reimburses eligible providers $40 per dose for COVID-19 vaccine administration. Complete policy and billing guidance for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines is available here.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-929-9342