The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is actively discussing a fourth COVID vaccination dosage, or booster shot, as some people receive their third dose.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may require the additional shot, according to the CDC, which updated its guidelines on Tuesday.
“Moderately and severely immunocompromised people aged ≥18 years who completed an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received an additional mRNA vaccine dose may receive a single COVID-19 booster dose (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Janssen) at least 6 months after completing their third mRNA vaccine dose,” the health agency wrote on its website. In such situations, people who are moderately and severely immunocompromised may receive a total of four COVID-19 vaccine doses,” the CDC stated.
The third vaccine dose for immunocompromised patients is classified by the CDC as a “additional dose” of the same volume as the previous two doses. The fourth dose is considered a “booster” for those patients, and will be given in half the volume of the first three doses.
The CDC says that those who got a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are eligible for a booster dose six months or more after their initial series:
- 65 years and older
- Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
- Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
- Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings
Those who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine should also get booster injections, according to the CDC. Anyone 18 and older who got vaccinated two months or more ago is encouraged in this case.
Visit vaccines.gov to locate a COVID vaccine near you.
