Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In 'Exceptional Situations,' It's OK To Mix Vaccines, Delay 2nd Dose, CDC says
CNBC: CDC Changes Covid Vaccine Guidance To OK Mixing Pfizer And Moderna Shots
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quietly changed its guidance on Covid-19 vaccine shots, saying it’s now OK to mix Pfizer’s and Moderna’s shots in “exceptional situations” and that it’s also fine to wait up to six weeks to get the second shot of either company’s two-dose immunization. While Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines, which both use messenger RNA technology, were authorized to be given 21 and 28 days apart, respectively, the agency now says you can receive either shot so long as they are given at least 28 days apart, according to new guidance posted Thursday on its website. (Feuer, 1/22)
The Hill: CDC Changes COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance To Allow Mixing Pfizer, Moderna Shots In 'Exceptional Situations'
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday updated its guidance on the coronavirus vaccines in circulation, green-lighting doctors to mix shots from Pfizer and Moderna in “exceptional situations.” The vaccines, which both use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, require two doses and were authorized to be administered 21 and 28 days apart, respectively. The CDC now says patients can receive either shot as long as they are given at least 28 days after the first dose. (Axelrod, 1/22)
The New York Times: CDC Eases Coronavirus Vaccine Rules For ‘Exceptional Circumstances’
Until now, the C.D.C. had cautioned against any dosing changes, saying there was no evidence for it. A C.D.C. spokeswoman, Kristen Nordlund, said the agency’s “intention is not to suggest people do anything different, but provide clinicians with flexibility for exceptional circumstances.” (Stolberg, 1/22)
The CDC updates its guidance on time between doses —
Bloomberg: CDC Says Vaccine Doses May Be Spaced Further As FDA Eases Stance
Follow-up doses of the Covid-19 vaccines could be given up to six weeks later if it’s not feasible to get them in the recommended interval, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also offering some flexibility for “modest delays.” The guidance posted in a Jan. 21 update to the CDC website said a second dose should be administered as close to the recommended schedule as possible, either three weeks for the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE vaccine or four weeks for the Moderna Inc. shot. (Tozzi, 1/22)
The Washington Post: CDC Says 2nd Coronavirus Vaccine Shot May Be Scheduled Up To 6 Weeks Later
People who have received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine can schedule their second shot up to six weeks later if they are not able to get one in the recommended time frame, according to updated guidance this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The recommended interval between doses is three weeks for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and four weeks for Moderna’s. “The second dose should be administered as close to the recommended interval as possible,” according to guidance updated Thursday. But if it is not feasible to get the second dose in that period, the CDC says a second shot may be scheduled “up to 6 weeks (42 days)” after the first shot. (Sun, 1/22)
