On September 2, 2022, the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health sent Health Alert #204 to health care providers, hospitals and other health care facilities. The alert covered the new Omicron COVID-19 boosters.
On September 1, 2022, the CDC endorsed the recommendations of its vaccine advisory committee (ACIP) for the updated boosters. The Pfizer-BioNTech booster was for people 12 and older. The Moderna booster was for people 18 and older.
The updated boosters added parts of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein to the original vaccine. The goal was to restore protection that may have gone down since earlier shots.
Who could get the booster
- People in the authorized age group who had finished a primary series with any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine.
- At least 2 months had to pass since the primary series or since the most recent original (monovalent) booster.
- Each person got a single booster dose.
Other points in the alert
- The original (monovalent) boosters were no longer authorized as boosters for ages 12 and older. Providers were told to stop giving them at once. The original Pfizer and Moderna vaccines stayed in use for the primary series.
- “Bivalent,” “Omicron” and “updated” boosters all meant the same products. The state asked providers to use the plain words “Omicron” or “updated” with patients.
Later state alerts extended the updated boosters to younger children. For earlier booster guidance, see Health Advisory #180 and COVID-19 vaccine booster.
This guidance is from September 2022. It is kept here as a record and is not current advice. Check current guidance from the CDC or your doctor.