Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup Recommends Pfizer Vaccine Booster Shot After 6 Months

SACRAMENTO – The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup Sept. 24, completed its review of the federal process and has recommended a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months after their primary vaccination series for people older than 65 and people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The Workgroup provided its confirmation to the governors of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington today. 

The Workgroup recommended the following groups of people who received the Pfizer vaccine should receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine after six months:

• People 65 and older,
• People living in a long-term care facility, and
• People 50-64 with underlying medical conditions.

In addition, the Workgroup recommended that the following groups of people ages 18-64 who received the Pfizer vaccine may also receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine after six months: 

• People with underlying medical conditions, and
• People who are at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to occupational or institutional setting.

The Workgroup endorsed the CDC’s recognition that long-standing health and social inequities have increased the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and recommended that social determinants of vulnerability be included in the assessment of medical conditions that qualify individuals for booster doses. Because unvaccinated individuals remain at much higher risk of COVID-19 than vaccinated individuals, the Workgroup also reiterated that its members strongly support vaccination against COVID-19 for everyone 12 years of age and older.