FDA Authorizes Use of J&J and Moderna Boosters, as well as Mix-and-Matching
October 21, 2021
Last night, the FDA issued a news release on the use of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines, including implementation of the mix-and-match method for boosters. The agency amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines to allow for booster doses, adding that, “the use of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine that may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series” to individuals:
- 65+ years in age
- 18-64 years in age at high risk of severe COVID-19
- 18-64 years in age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2
The amendment also includes the use of a single booster dose of the J&J vaccine at least two months after completion of the primary-dose series in those 18+ years of age.
The Moderna, Pfizer, and J&J vaccines were granted EUA for mix-and-matching as a booster dose. “For example, Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine recipients 18 years of age and older may receive a single booster dose of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (half dose) or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine at least two months after receiving their Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine primary vaccination.” The FDA also included a fact sheet for each available vaccine for healthcare providers and vaccine recipients to review.
The ACIP is the advisory committee to the CDC, which determines policy around vaccines granted EUA or approval by the FDA. They will be convening today to discuss implementation of the J&J, Moderna and mix-and-matching boosters.