SECTION 9 | USEFUL INFORMATION/CONTACTS/Q&As (1)
IMAC 02/2022
0800 IMMUNE frequently asked questions Question
Answer
Can we administer a booster dose earlier than 3 months?
No, Pfizer/BioNTech 12+ boosters are now given from minimum spacing of 3 months after completion of primary course 2nd dose.
Can we shorten the spacing of the Pfizer/BioNTech Paediatric dose schedule from 8 weeks to 21 days?
The recommended spacing is 8 weeks for 2nd dose for 5-11 year olds of mRNA-CV (10mcg) for an optimal immune response. This can be reduced to 21 days in situations where an earlier interval is important for quicker protection, eg, significant medical issues such as immunosuppression, or if delaying vaccine might cause access issues.
Should vaccine doses be adjusted based on consumer’s size?
No, all vaccines doses are calculated based on age. Paediatric Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine 5-11 year old criteria is by chronological age of the child’s immune system not by the child’s weight or size.
What 2nd dose should be given to a child who turns 12 after dose 1?
If the child starts with a paediatric dose they continue with that same schedule.
Can Paediatric Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine be given with other vaccines?
Paediatric Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine can be given concomitantly with childhood schedule vaccines.
What documents are needed if someone wants to swap from Pfizer to AstraZeneca vaccines?
The patient will need to have a prescription and a consent form signed by a practitioner with prescribing rights. If the practitioner has signed the prescription but not the consent form, then the clinical lead of the vaccination centre can sign the medical practitioner part of the consent form.
Can I give booster doses in pregnancy ?
mRNA-CV vaccine (30mcg) is recommended at all stages of pregnancy. Booster doses for those aged 18 and older can be given from 4 months after the second dose of the primary course. Booster doses are particularly recommended for individuals most at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 or with significant medical issues that increase their risk for severe COVID-19.
Prescriber wants to do an e-script for a patient’s AstraZeneca dose, what would I find that under?
3 different variations: • ChAdOx-1 virus 50 billion viral particles/0.5mL • COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-S virus 50 billion viral particles/0.5ml) • AD26 COV2.s virus 50 billion viral particles/0.5mL
COVID-19 IMMUNISATION CLINICAL TOOLKIT | FEBRUARY 2022
CALL 0800 IMMUNE (466 863) FOR CLINICAL ADVICE
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