In Massachusetts, about 20% of the population remains unvaccinated against COVID-19, however, a segment of the population should get either a third or a fourth shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last week, the CDC released new vaccine guidelines for individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
The CDC said individuals have a weakened immune system if they have experienced the following:
- Actively receiving 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 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress their immune response
Individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive a third or fourth shot depending on which vaccine they received, the CDC said.
Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised Children Ages 5-11
Children from 5 to 11 who are also moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive three vaccine doses of Pfizer, the CDC said.
The second dose should be administered 21 days after the first. A third dose should be given 28 days after the second.
A booster shot is not currently recommended at this point for children 5 through 11.
Pre-teens, Teens and Adults Who Are Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised
Anyone who is at least 12 years old and is moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive four COVID shots, the CDC said.
For individuals who received Pfizer, the second dose should be administered 21 days after the first. The third dose should be given 28 days after the second dose. A booster, or fourth shot, should be received three months after the third.
Individuals who are 18 and older and received a Moderna vaccine should also get four shots.
The second dose should be provided 28 days after the first. A third dose should be administered 28 days after the second.
A booster is also recommended three months after the third dose.
Immunocompromised Individuals Who Received a J&J/Janssen Vaccine
Moderately or severely immunocompromised individual who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine should also get two more shots, the CDC said.
A second dose, either Moderna or Pfizer, should be given at least 28 days after the first dose.
A booster is then recommended at least two months after the second dose.
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