Individuals who are considered to be immunocompromised are now able to get a third dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines in Boulder County.
On Aug. 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's, or CDC, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that people with moderately or severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The committee suggested the booster could be taken in as little as four weeks or 28 days after the second dose of either vaccine.
"It is not recommended that people receive more than three mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses," states a news release from Boulder County Public Health.
The booster should be the same vaccine as the prior two doses, the news release states.
“The additional dose of the vaccine for immunocompromised people will help increase their protection and prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death,” said Indira Gujral, Boulder County Public Health Manager of Communicable Disease & Emergency Management. “This is a great step toward protecting vulnerable people in our community. If you are immunocompromised, go get your third dose today!”
An additional dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has not been authorized for immunocompromised individuals at this time, according to the news release.
Those recommended to receive a third dose include:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response.
The booster doses, like the prior doses, are free to individuals seeking a third dose. Clinics will not require proof of ID, insurance or medical history in order to get the third dose. "Individuals may self-report their immunocompromising conditions to vaccine providers," according to the news release.
While boosters has been approved for immunocompromised individuals, they have not been approved by the CDC or FDA for the general public, according to the release. However, the CDC has indicated that such approval may come the week of Sept. 20 for all Americans. For the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines the third shot would be available eight months after the second dose.
The CDC also anticipates a booster of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine soon to become available, according to the release.
Individuals looking for clinics offering the vaccine can click here to find a vaccination site in Boulder County.
