Updated vaccine recommendations change vaccine eligibility and availability

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (May 1, 2023) – COVID-19 bivalent mRNA booster shots are available at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) with second doses of the booster now being offered to adults age 65 and older as well as immunocompromised individuals 6 years and older. Eligible and interested individuals can receive the bivalent booster by scheduling an appointment with their Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) primary care physician’s office.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently amended the emergency use authorizations of the COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The new guidelines recommend the use of bivalent mRNA vaccines for all primary vaccine series and booster shots. The bivalent vaccines include the original COVID vaccine as well as an updated component aimed at the BA.4 and BA.5 variants which currently cause the majority of worldwide COVID infections. The original monovalent vaccines will no longer be available for use in the United States.

The CDC recommends bivalent boosters for everyone 6 months and older who has completed the initial vaccine series but has not received a bivalent booster. In addition, the CDC authorized a second bivalent booster for the two groups with the greatest risk of severe COVID infections – adults age 65 and older and individuals with immunocompromising conditions. However, to receive a second bivalent booster, it must be at least four months since the first bivalent booster was administered.

The new authorization also simplifies the vaccine series for almost all age groups. Bivalent versions of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be used for all individuals 6 months and older who were not previously vaccinated. For individuals 6 years and older, only a single dose of the bivalent vaccine is required to complete the vaccine series.

Despite continued decreases in COVID cases across the country, the U.S. is still seeing more than 1,000 COVID-19-related deaths every week. “Vaccination remains one of our most important tools to reduce the risk of serious complications related to COVID-19,” says Timothy Friel, MD, Chair, Department of Medicine, infectious diseases specialist, LVHN. “This is particularly important in those individuals who are most vulnerable and at highest risk for hospitalization and death following infection.”

Vaccinated individuals who have not previously received a bivalent booster shot should strongly consider scheduling a booster, particularly for the following:

• Older adults
• Immunocompromised individuals age 6 years or older
• Those with multiple medical issues that place them at higher risk for severe outcomes and hospitalization related to COVID-19

“As always, we encourage patients to discuss any questions about their personal risk and need for bivalent boosters with their primary care or specialty care physicians or other health care provider,” Dr. Friel says.

To schedule an updated COVID-19 bivalent booster, an individual can call their LVPG primary care clinician’s office or can log in to MyLVHN, the patient portal, and select “Schedule Vaccine Appointment,” found under the menu icon.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccinations, visit LVHN.org/vaccines.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) includes 13 hospital campuses, four in Allentown, two in Bethlehem, one in Easton, one in East Stroudsburg, one in Hazleton, two in Pottsville, one in Lehighton and one in Dickson City, Pa.; 28 health centers; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices; 20 ExpressCARE locations including the area’s only Children’s ExpressCARE; pharmacy, imaging, home health, rehabilitation and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred. Specialty care includes: trauma care for adults and children, burn care at the Regional Burn Center; kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer, orthopedics, neurology, complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, and robotic surgery in 10 specialties. Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence, Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute and Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute physicians provide the most advanced treatments. Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute is a member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance, an initiative that helps community providers improve the quality of cancer care and offers access to MSK clinical trials. Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, the community’s only children’s hospital, provides care in more than 30 specialties and general pediatrics. Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest is ranked as the region’s No. 1 hospital for nine straight years and has been recognized among Pennsylvania’s top 10 hospitals for nine consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest, LVH–17th Street and LVH–Muhlenberg are the Lehigh Valley region’s only Magnet® hospitals for nursing excellence. Additional information is available by visiting LVHN.org or following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

 
Information provided to TVL by:
Brian Downs
Public Information Officer
Marketing and Public Affairs
Lehigh Valley Health Network
LVHN.org

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