FDA authorizes COVID-19 boosters for immunocompromised individuals

The Food and Drug Administration late last night announced amendments of Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorizations to allow for the use of a third, additional dose for certain immunocompromised individuals. FDA specifically mentioned boosters for solid organ transplant recipients or those who are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise. The agency instructs that the third dose be administered at least 28 days following the two-dose regimen of the same vaccine to individuals ages 18 or older for Moderna and ages 12 or older for Pfizer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee today voted unanimously to recommend a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines for those immunocompromised patients, pending final approval from CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, M.D.

Following FDA’s announcement, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed  that such boosters are to be made available at no cost to immunocompromised Medicare beneficiaries. CMS says that the Medicare program will continue to pay providers $40 to administer this additional dose, the same amount it pays for other doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.