Ohio Department of Health

27/08/2024 | Press release | Archived content

Vaccines for Children COVID-19 Vaccine Update

On August 22, 2024, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines under an Emergency Use authorization. The updated vaccines are formulated to target currently circulating variants and to provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. These actions relate to updated mRNA vaccines for 2024-2025 manufactured by Moderna TX Inc. and Pfizer-BioNTech Inc., which have been updated to include a monovalent component that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain.

  • Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (2024-2025 Formula): individuals ages 6 months and older.
  • Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (2024-2025 Formula): individuals ages 6 months and older.

On August 23, 2024, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated administration guidance for the Interim Clinical Considerations for the 2024-2025 COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. 

The 2023-2024 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine remains authorized but is no longer available in the United States, as all doses have expired. Accordingly, at this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for use of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine have been removed. CDC recommendations will be updated if FDA approves or authorizes additional 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines.

Administration and Ordering

2023-2024 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Are No Longer Authorized.

As part of FDA's actions, the 2023-2024 Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States. To minimize the risk of vaccine administration errors, providers should: 

  • Remove all 2023-2024 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from storage units immediately, even if they are not expired.
  • Once all inventory is fully accounted for, delete 2023-2024 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine listings from the available vaccine inventory in the Vaccine Ordering Management System (VOMS), as applicable.
  • Return all unused 2023-2024 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) using the normal process for returning spoiled/expired vaccines.
    • To request a return label, complete the vaccine transfer form and submit it to the ODH Immunization Program.
    • Once ODH has processed the form, a return label will be generated and emailed to the provider.

2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccines for the VFC Program and 317 Program.

  • Ordering the Moderna/Spikevax and Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines is temporarily on hold as ImpactSIIS/VOMS requires coding updates pending CDC publication. The system requires this configuration prior to allowing administration of any doses of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. Additional information about ordering will be forthcoming as soon as it is available.

Please contact the ODH Immunization Program at 1-800-282-0546 or email [email protected] with questions.