The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is adjusting the timeline of booster shots for people who are severely immunocompromised.
The CDC is reminding people who are immunocompromised and already received an mRNA vaccine to get a booster, even if they’ve had a series of three regular shots, CNN reported.
The CDC had recommended that the fourth shot, or a booster, for those who are severely immunocompromised be dispensed at least five months after the third full dose, WMAQ reported.
The CDC said it is not changing the actual number of doses that people can get, instead, it is clarifying the rules, CNN reported.
The agency, however, is expected to adjust the timing between the third and fourth doses for people with certain health risks.
The CDC is planning to advise anyone who is severely immunocompromised to get a fourth booster three months after their third dose. Some of the health risks that qualify for the fourth booster include HIV or medications used for cancer treatments.
The age parameters depend on which vaccine they received.
It applies to people 18 and older who got the Moderna version or people 12 and older if they received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, CNN reported.
“In addition to communication efforts, we are adding more clarification in the clinical considerations to emphasize this population should receive three doses for a primary series and one booster dose if they are ages 12 years and older,” Elisha Hall, a CDC health education specialist, said Friday, according to CNN.
The decision to offer the fourth dose was made in October, but according to CNN, several state health departments had not shared the information on their websites by late January, which could contribute to the confusion as to who can qualify.
Some pharmacies have reportedly turned immunocompromised people seeking the fourth dose away, telling them they did not qualify, CNN reported.
As for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, they are being told to get an mRNA vaccine at least 28 days after their first dose and a third shot two months later.
For the latest on the recommendations, visit the CDC’s website.
CDC booster recommendations by National Content Desk on Scribd
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