Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose for Children Update

Date: June 7, 2022Attention: All ProvidersEffective Date: May 17, 2022Providers should monitor the Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) Provider Portal regularly for alerts and updates associated with the COVID-19 event.  TCHP reserves the right to update and/or change this information without prior notice due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 event.Call to action: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) would like to inform providers that on May 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine How this impacts providers: The FDA amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as follows:

• Authorization of a single booster dose for individuals age 5 through 11 at least 5 months after completion of the primary series with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) allows for pharmacy benefit coverage of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in compliance with the expanded use authorized by the FDA. HHSC continues to cover the administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine based on the Medicare rate for vaccine administration as non-risk. Next steps for providers: Prescribers should share this communication with their staff. If you have any questions, please email Provider Network Management at: providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.For access to all provider alerts,log into: www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers.