CDC Recommends Booster Doses of Moderna, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccines

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended the use of a booster dose of both the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the 50 µg dose level as well as the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 single-shot vaccine for eligible individuals, according to separate statements from both companies.

“Since we began this journey in January of 2020, our goal has been to protect as many people as possible from COVID-19. The ACIP recommendation is another step forward in our quest to address this devastating pandemic with a vaccine,” Stéphane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, said in a press release.¹ “We are grateful for the opportunity to provide individuals with another layer of protection against COVID-19.”

The Moderna booster dose is recommended for individuals 65 years of age and older, individuals 18 to 64 years of age who are at high risk of severe COVID-19, and those 18 to 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Moderna estimated that the authorization of a booster dose could result in up to 1 billion extra doses being available by 2022.

ACIP also issued a recommendation for a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for all eligible individuals. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine booster dose was recommended for individuals 18 years of age and older who received the single-shot vaccine at least 2 months earlier. A booster dose was also recommended for eligible individuals at least 6 months following the second dose of an authorized mRNA vaccine.

“The Johnson & Johnson vaccine provided 94% protection in the US against COVID-19 when given as a booster following the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and due to its unique mechanism of action, offers long-lasting, durable protection. We remain confident in the benefit it will provide to millions around the world,” Paul Stoffels, MD, vice chairman of the executive committee and chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson, said in a press release.²

Both ACIP recommendations were forwarded to the director of the CDC and the US Department of Health and Human Services for review and adoption.

Earlier this week, the FDA expanded the use of booster doses for COVID-19 in eligible populations, including a single booster dose of the Moderna vaccine and a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. In addition, FDA officials authorized each of the available COVID-19 vaccines as a heterologous booster dose following completion of the primary vaccination with a different vaccine.

References

1. US CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommends Booster Vaccination with Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine. Moderna. News release. October 21, 2021. Accessed on October 22, 2021. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211021006097/en

2. U.S. CDC Advisory Committee Unanimously Recommends Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine as a Booster for All Eligible Individuals Who Receive Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines. Janssen. News release. October 21, 2021. Accessed on October 22, 2021. https://www.janssen.com/us-cdc-advisory-committee-unanimously-recommends-johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine-booster-all