Dear NYS COVID-19 Vaccine Provider:

Since recommendations and eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination are expected to be updated repeatedly in coming months, and New York State (NYS) clinical guidance is aligned with CDC clinical guidance, the format of the attached Guidance for the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Program for Individuals 12 Years of Age and Older has been updated to refer providers to CDC’s Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Approved or Authorized in the United States for the most up-to-date clinical guidance. The attached NYS guidance document retains a list of recent changes, key points, sections with NYS-specific information, sections for certain special situations, and sections or links with important information that is not included in CDC’s Clinical Considerations document (e.g., storage and handling).

NYS clinicians are encouraged to read and become thoroughly familiar with the CDC’s Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Approved or Authorized in the United States, which is the best source for both general guidance and guidance for special situations.  

A summary of the most recent changes to the attached Guidance for the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Program for Individuals 12 Years of Age and Older is outlined below:

  • CDC clinical considerations were amended to state that the following people should receive a second COVID-19 booster dose: (1) people ages 12 years and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, and (2) people ages 50 years and older.   
  • CDC clinical considerations were amended to provide considerations for people who recently had SARS-CoV-2 infection to delay their primary series or booster doses by 3 months from symptom onset or positive test (if infection was asymptomatic).  
  • The CDC has updated clinical considerations for COVID-19 re-vaccination for patients who received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine during treatment with B-cell depleting therapies (e.g., rituximab, ocrelizumab) that were administered over a limited period of time.
  • Clarifying updates were made regarding the considerations to initiate COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C and MIS-A).
  • The FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has now been limited in use to specific situations. COVID-19 vaccine recipients should be informed that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are preferred over the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Updates were made regarding individuals who were vaccinated outside the US and individuals who were vaccinated as part of a clinical trial.

Thank you for your ongoing participation in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program.

Sincerely,
The NYS COVID-19 Vaccine Team