On August 31, 2022 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized bivalent formulations of the Covid-19 vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination. The bivalent vaccines, which we will also refer to as “updated boosters", contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2, and the other one in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. Based on the data, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are expected to provide increased protection against the currently circulating omicron variant. Individuals who receive a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may experience side commonly reported by individuals who receive authorized or approved monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The Updated Covid-19 booster dose is a bivalent formula that boosts immunity against the original coronavirus strain and also protects against the newer Omicron variants that account for most of the current cases. On August 31, 2022 the new Updated Covid-19 Booster replaces the existing monovalent vaccine booster, therefore that vaccine will no longer be authorized for use as booster doses in people age 12 and up,

Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Updated Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. Everyone will benefit from an Updated Covid-19 Booster in one way or another.

Timing of the Updated Covid-19 Booster depends on your last Covid-19 infection and/or vaccine dose. If you've been previously infected with Covid-19, you should wait at least 2 months to receive the Updated Covid-19 Booster. Similarly, you should wait 2 months after your last Covid-19 vaccine (2nd primary series dose or booster dose). The new Updated Covid-19 Booster replaces the existing monovalent vaccine booster, therefore that vaccine will no longer be authorized for use as booster doses in people age 12 and up.