A surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in California has prompted health officials to recommend a vaccine booster shot for individuals with compromised immune systems.
The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency is advising that immunocompromised individuals receive a third dose of the vaccine, especially as the more transmissible delta variant is spreading in the region.
The California Department of Public Health also recommends a third shot for some individuals.
CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomas J. Aragon said, "As the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continues to rise in California, it is important that we take action to protect those who are most vulnerable to serious illness." " . "Following the FDA's determination that a third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Vaccine is beneficial for people who are immunocompromised, our partners in the California Department of Public Health and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup conducted an additional review. and providers are recommended. Boost immunity for this population to ensure additional protection from COVID-19. People who are not in this population and have been fully vaccinated remain protected against the virus and can be There is no need for additional vaccination against COVID-19 at this time."
The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have approved an additional dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for immunocompromised people. The FDA has amended the emergency use authorization for these vaccines to allow a third dose that cannot be given earlier than 28 days after the second dose of the vaccine.
Ideally individuals should be vaccinated with the same vaccine they received for the first and second doses, but if this is not possible, it is acceptable to receive a third dose with a second mRNA vaccine.
Although the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work very well in most people, there is evidence that people who are severely immunized are not completely protected after receiving two doses and in this small, vulnerable group. Some of them benefit from a third dose. Certain medical conditions or treatments used for specific conditions may prevent the immune system from responding adequately to two doses of the vaccine and additional doses will be needed to provide adequate protection against COVID‐19.
People who qualify for a third dose include organ transplant recipients, those undergoing cancer treatment, people with advanced or untreated HIV, and certain immunosuppressant drugs.
The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency encourages people who fall into this group to speak with their doctor to discuss the need for a third dose and the best timing for this additional dose. The third dose of vaccines will be available through vaccination sites that currently offer Pfizer or Moderna Vaccines. Public Health will accept self-verification of an eligible medical condition on its site.
A follow-up dose is not currently recommended for those receiving a single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The FDA is still evaluating data on the effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in immunocompromised individuals.
COVID-19 vaccine booster doses are not available to the general public at this time. However, that may soon change as health officials scrutinize the data and consider booster shots for everyone around the eight-month mark.
As of Monday, Stanislaus County has recorded 62,520 cases of COVID-19, with 2,114 active and 1,108 deaths. 214 are hospitalised, of which 44 are in ICU. Turlock has a total of 7,788 confirmed cases and 831 probable cases of COVID-19.