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Vaccination Update

State Mandates COVID-19 Vaccine for HCP

This week, Governor Cuomo announced that the COVID-19 vaccine will be required for health care personnel (HCP) in New York State, specifically workers in hospitals and long term care facilities, by Sept. 27th. LeadingAge NY is working to provide members with the most up-to-date information on this issue. More on the State vaccine mandate is available here

COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters Approved by Federal Agencies

On Aug. 12th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the administration of an additional (i.e., third) dose for certain people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised due to a medical condition or receipt of immunosuppressive medications or treatments. Other fully vaccinated individuals do not need an additional vaccine dose as of the publication of this guidance.

Members should note that, according to State vaccination guidance issued on Aug. 16th, due to insufficient data at this time, the EUA amendment for an additional dose does not apply to the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine and does not support the use of an additional mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose after a single-dose Janssen/J&J COVID-19 vaccine. LeadingAge NY will keep members abreast of any changes in this regard, knowing that many hospital discharges may have received the J&J one-shot. A State Advisory on additional mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses for immunocompromised individuals issued on Aug. 16th is available here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made an interim recommendation for the use of an additional dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after the completion of an initial two-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series for moderately to severely immunocompromised people.

The CDC notes that this authorization is not intended to relate to the general nursing home population. LeadingAge NY will keep members informed of movement in this direction.

Currently, the CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have:

  • Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
  • Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress immune response

Individuals should talk to their health care provider/physician about their medical condition and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them. More information is available in the CDC's guidance on COVID-19 boosters here.

COCA Call Regarding mRNA Booster Vaccines for Immunocompromised

The CDC's Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) office will be holding a call on Tues., Aug. 17th from 2 to 3 p.m. on the booster issue. A recording of the call will be posted here. The COCA site has a wealth of information on many COVID-19 topics. We encourage members to review it.