FDA Authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Booster for Certain Populations
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) amended the emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to permit the administration of a single booster dose.  This booster may be administered at least six months after completion of Pfizer’s primary two-shot vaccination series.  Currently, this booster dose is limited to the following individuals:

• Individuals 65 years of age and older;

• Individuals 18-64 years of age who are at high risk of severe COVID-19; and

• Individuals 18-64 years of age whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 puts them at high risk of serious COVID-19 complications, including severe COVID-19.

Following this FDA authorization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially recommended the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster and released interim guidelines in alignment with the FDA’s booster authorization.  And the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that it will continue to provide coverage, without cost sharing, for all COVID-19 vaccines, which now includes this new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.

HRSA Announces Grace Period for PRF Reporting Period 1
In response to the challenges that health care providers continue to face due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) announced a 60-day grace period for Reporting Period 1 for those health care providers who received Provider Relief Fund (“PRF”) payments.  While the Reporting Period 1 deadline has not technically changed, this 60-day grace period will provide health care providers more time to come into compliance with their PRF reporting requirements without fear of recoupment and other enforcement actions being brought against them.  This grace period runs through November 30, 2021.  More information can be found here.