ACIP Recommends 2nd COVID-19 Shot for Older Adults, Immunocompromised Individuals

The US CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Wednesday recommended that adults aged 65 years and older and people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised receive a second dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after their first dose.

The ACIP also recommended that individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised receive 3 or more doses under shared clinical decision making. Following the ACIP’s October 23, 2024, meeting, CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the recommendations.

"This vote allows people to make the best decisions possible to keep themselves and their loved ones safe from COVID-19,” Mandy Cohen said in a press release. “CDC will continue to educate the public on how and when to get their updated vaccinations so they can risk less severe illness and do more of what they love."

The advisory committee also voted on Wednesday to lower the recommended age for vaccination against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and pneumococcal pneumonia from age 65 to age 50 years. The ACIP recommended all adults aged 50 and older receive either Prevnar 20 (20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; Pfizer) or Capaxvie (pneumococcal 21-valent conjugate vaccine; Merck).

Reference: CDC recommends second dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for people 65 years and older and for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. News item. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 23, 2024. Accessed October 24, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s1023-covid-19-vaccine.html