Be Ready to Dispense COVID-19 Spring “Boosters”

Patients will ask if they need another COVID-19 vaccine this spring.

CDC now says that patients age 65 years or older who already had a 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine should get an additional dose.

It’s partly because COVID-19 transmission remains substantial year-round and cases tend to go up in the summer...unlike flu or RSV.

And vaccine effectiveness is expected to wane over time.

Continue to ask patients about their COVID-19 vaccine history...or help check immunization registries...to get patients up to date.

Be aware that about 60% of patients 65 and up still haven’t received a first 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. Offer to pull in your pharmacist to discuss concerns and share info with these patients.

For example, there are still about 20,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 2,000 deaths weekly...and older adults are most at risk. But vaccination may cut the risk of severe illness by about half.

If older patients already got a 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, offer an additional dose...especially to those over 75, in long-term care facilities, or with chronic conditions (heart disease, diabetes, etc).

But check that it’s been at least 4 months after their last COVID-19 vaccine...or 3 months since a COVID-19 infection...prior to dispensing.

Expect your pharmacist to encourage getting the additional dose by the end of June...so patients can also get a COVID-19 vaccine in the fall.

Dispense any brand of an age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine for the additional dose in older adults. Use standard doses...0.3 mL for Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech)...or 0.5 mL for Spikevax (Moderna) or Novavax.

Be aware, there’s no change to the recommendations for moderately or severely immunocompromised patients 6 months and older. These patients and their provider can consider additional COVID-19 vaccine doses...at least 2 months after the prior dose as needed.

Don’t dispense an additional dose to immunocompetent adults under 65...there’s not enough added benefit and it’s not cost-effective. But still check that these patients are current with vaccination.

Point out that recommended COVID-19 vaccines...including the additional dose for older adults...will be covered under Medicare Part B, Medicaid, and most private plans.

If needed, connect patients to resources for no-cost vaccines, such as the local health department or CDC’s Bridge Access Program.

Anticipate that FDA will decide on the strains for the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines in May...and CDC will vote on the fall plan in June.

Check our resource, COVID-19 Vaccines, for updates.

• Chart: COVID-19 Vaccines
• Chart: Preventing RSV
• FAQ: Flu Vaccines for 2023-24