8.17.21
Effective August 13, 2021, the CDC recommends that people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised receive an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) at least 28 days after the completion of the initial mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series.
Available data shows that these people don’t always build adequate levels of protection after an initial 2-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series. The data also shows that these individuals may benefit from receiving an additional dose of an mRNA vaccine to develop as much protection as possible against COVID-19.
Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have:
• Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
• Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
• Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.
If you fall into one of these categories, contact the Prairie Band Health Center at 785-966-8200 to schedule an appointment for an additional dose. If you are unsure and have questions as to whether your medical conditions warrant a 3rd dose, contact the Prairie Band Health Center and speak with a nurse.
More detailed information regarding immunocompromised-patients is available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/immunocompromised-patients.html