COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATES

Booster Vaccination

Boosters vaccinations with an mRNA vaccine (i.e., Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech) arerecommended for all who have received their primary series. Specific recommendations vary based on age, primary series product, and time from last vaccine (or infection). People ages 12 years and older are recommended to receive 1 age-appropriate bivalent mRNA booster dose after completion of any FDA-approved or FDA-authorized monovalent primary series or previously received monovalent booster dose(s). This new booster recommendation replaces all prior booster recommendations for this age group.

Note: Monovalent mRNA vaccines are no longer authorized as a booster dose for people ages 12 years and older. For more information, visit Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC

The NYS Department of Health has activated the following CPT codes for the administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech (for ages 12 and older) and Moderna (ages 18 and older) bivalent vaccine booster doses effective as of the FDA’s EUA effective date 8/31/2022:

Children ages 5–11 years are recommended to receive 1 monovalent mRNA booster dose after completion of a monovalent primary series if eligible (i.e., if a booster dose is FDA-authorized for use in a specified population). For more information, visit Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC

Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine

In August 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine for adolescents, building on a July 2022 EUA for the vaccine in adults.

Current recommendations for Novavax are as follows:

• Adolescents ages 12–17 years: A 2-dose primary series and 1 age-appropriate bivalent mRNA booster dose is recommended. The primary series doses are separated by 3-8 weeks and the bivalent mRNA booster dose is administered at least 2 months after completion of the primary series. Currently, the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose is authorized for adolescents in this age group who receive a Novavax primary series.

• Adults ages 18 years and older: A 2-dose primary series and 1 bivalent mRNA booster dose (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech) is recommended. The primary series doses are separated by 3–8 weeks and the bivalent mRNA booster dose is administered at least 2 months after completion of the primary series. Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC

The NYSDOH Department has activated the following CPT codes for the administration of the Novavax vaccine:

NYS Medicaid coverage and billing guidance for COVID-19 Vaccine administration is located here.