State Updates General Vaccination Guidance

General COVID-19 vaccination guidance documents for populations aged 5 to 11 and 12+ were issued by the Department of Health (DOH) last week. DOH also posted updated health care personnel (HCP) checklists for those providing vaccinations as well as new consent and screening checklists for those being vaccinated. All vaccination guidance can be found here.

The new general guidance addresses changes to primary and booster timing requirements for individuals who are immunocompromised. DOH has included a chart to help explain Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for primary and booster requirements. Physicians/providers may deviate from CDC recommendations, but it is urged that no additional shots beyond those recommended should be provided.

The guidance also removes the minimum interval requirement between treatment for passive antibody therapy and vaccination. The CDC previously recommended a 90-day interval out of caution, but has now removed that recommendation. The new guidance also adds myocarditis and pericarditis episodes within three weeks of a vaccination dose as a precaution when considering additional doses. The CDC recommends that such persons not receive an additional dose if this occurs.