The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has taken steps to simplify COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and allow more flexibility for people at higher risk who want the option of added protection from additional COVID-19 bivalent vaccine doses.

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met last week to discuss these COVID-19 vaccine recommendation changes and expressed their support for these recommendations.

These changes include:

• Allow an additional updated (bivalent) vaccine dose for adults aged 65 years and older and additional doses for people who are immunocompromised. This allows more flexibility for healthcare providers to administer additional doses to immunocompromised patients as needed.
• People aged 65 and older may receive an additional bivalent dose at least four months after their previous bivalent dose.
• People aged 6 years and older who are immunocompromised who have already received a bivalent dose may receive an additional bivalent dose at least two months after the previous bivalent dose. Additional doses for this population may be recommended by clinical providers based on the patient’s level of immunocompromise, with a minimum interval of two months from the previous bivalent dose.
• Monovalent (original) COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States.
• People aged 6 years and older who are not immunocompromised should receive one updated (bivalent) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether or not they completed their monovalent primary series.
• People aged 6 years and older who have already received a bivalent mRNA vaccine do not need to take any action unless they are 65 years or older or immunocompromised.
• For children under 6 years, multiple doses continue to be recommended and will vary by age, vaccine, and which vaccines were previously received.

“The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be our best defense against the most severe effects of the virus. The newest recommendations from the CDC allow the most vulnerable populations, individuals over 65 years old and individuals who are immunocompromised, to have access to an additional bivalent vaccine if they choose. Chaffee County Public Health, as well as pharmacies and clinics around Chaffee County, have the bivalent vaccine available,” says Emily Anderson, Deputy Director.

To make a vaccine appointment with Chaffee County Public Health, please call 719-539-4510. The vaccine bus will also be in Salida at Alpine Park on April 30th from 10 am to 4pm, in Buena Vista at the parking lot on Main and Railroad on May 1st from 10 am to 4 pm, and in Poncha Springs at the Visitors Center on May 2nd from 10 am to 4 pm.

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Dan R

Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.

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