FDA Simplifies COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule With Bivalent Doses for All Ages

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) simplified its COVID-19 immunization schedule on Tuesday, recommending a single shot of the bivalent vaccine specific to the BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the omicron variety for most people.

The FDA announced that moving forward, individuals aged six months and above will only receive bivalent doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The FDA also stated that the original doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States, according to The Hill.

The declaration made on Tuesday suggests a departure from the two-dose immunization regimen that has been the norm in the US for mRNA vaccination. The only COVID-19 vaccine initially approved in the US to be given in a single dose was produced by Johnson & Johnson.

If it has been at least four months after receiving the first dose of the so-called bivalent vaccination that combats Omicron strains, anybody 65 years of age or older may receive the COVID-19 vaccine again, TIME reported.

Additionally, the majority of immune-compromised patients may choose a second bivalent booster injection at least two months later, with additional doses as needed in the future at the doctor's discretion.

US to Treat COVID-19 Like Flu

The FDA also said that the original Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations are no longer valid and should not be used for anybody else, whether it is a first injection or a booster. Instead, the more recent Omicron-targeted version will be administered to anybody receiving a Pfizer or Moderna injection. If it's their first vaccination, individuals just need one combined dose.

Individuals who have received their initial vaccinations but have not yet received an Omicron-targeted booster can still do so, but the FDA will decide in the summer whether to administer a second bivalent booster to younger and healthier individuals.

The US government noted that the measure is part of a broader effort to simplify the COVID-19 vaccination process, as per a report from ABC News. Health authorities in the United States are moving towards a flu shot-like approach for COVID-19 vaccinations, where individuals receive a yearly single shot, which is updated to match the expected virus strain in circulation.