Mandy Cohen, CDC Director has supported the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for individuals aged 65 and older to get an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Currently, the CDC recommends that everyone aged 65 years and older should receive 2 updated 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccine doses to be considered up to date.

Additionally, individuals aged 65 years and older who have not previously received any COVID-19 vaccine doses and choose to get Novavax should get 2 doses of the updated Novavax vaccine, followed by a single additional dose of any of the updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine, to be up to date.

People who received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine are considered up to date when they receive 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine dose.

This decision aims to address the increased risk of severe COVID-19 in older adults and acknowledges data on vaccine effectiveness.

The recommendation aligns with previous guidance for immunocompromised individuals to receive extra vaccine doses.

Dr. Mandy Cohen emphasized that the additional dose for older adults aims to provide added protection against COVID-19, considering the heightened risk in this demographic.