Covid Vaccine Current Guidelines

05/25/2023

Covid vaccine skeptics and articles still abound despite no significant negative scientific evidence after more than 2 years of experience and 676 million doses given within the US. For individuals aged 12 years and older,  COVID-19 vaccination continues to rate a  Grade 1A.  

 

For those between 6 months to 11 years old, the  COVID-19 vaccination receives a Grade 1B meaning the recommendation has a strong recommendation, and applies to most patients.

 

 We know that the vaccine rapidly losses effectiveness at preventing someone from getting Covid over a few months.  Most importantly for those who are  vaccinated and boosted, it reduces severity of illness and especially hospitalizations and deaths approximately 3.8 fold  and 4.1 fold  respectively compared to the unvaccinated.

 

The newest guidelines for boosters are still uncertain but this is the summary for what is recommended now:

TABLE:  An overview of the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations

 

If you have never received any COVID-19 vaccine – you should receive a single bivalent vaccine.

 

If you were previously vaccinated with a monovalent COVID-19 vaccine and have not yet received a dose of the bivalent vaccine – you should receive a single bivalent booster.

 

If you are 65 years of age and older and have previously received a bivalent vaccine dose – you may receive one additional bivalent dose at least 4 months after your initial bivalent dose.

 

If you have a weakened immune system and have previously received a bivalent vaccine dose – you may receive one additional bivalent dose at least 2 months after your initial bivalent dose. Additional doses may be administered for people who are at higher risk conditions at the discretion of your healthcare provider.

 

 next booster remain uncertain.

 

 

Age remains the strongest risk factor for severe complications from Covid starting from  50 yo and up  but adding other health risk factors should be especially vigilant to  changes in guidelines .

 ( LINK https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-covid19-who-is-at-higher-risk) ) 

 

In the meantime anyone who is 50 yo or in a high risk group for complications from Covid should call Doctalker immediately upon acquiring Covid to consider using Paxlovid medication.

 

 

Source is the CDC: Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States

(https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/interim-considerations-us.html)

 

CDC simplifies COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, allows older adults and immunocompromised adults to get second dose of the updated vaccine

 https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/s0419-covid-vaccines.html