According to the recommendations of the US Food and Drug Administration, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the Scientific Safety Review Working Group of Western Countries, healthcare providers can now provide a third dose of Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to certain immune-compromised individuals.
Although authorized vaccines have been proven to be more than 90% effective in preventing most variants, emerging data suggests that people with moderate to severe immune system impairments are not always Is to build the same level of immunity. The third dose is not considered a booster, but an additional dose for individuals who did not fully develop immunity in the initial two-dose series.
“The third dose of Pfizer or Moderna will provide additional protection for those who need it and help us protect some of the most vulnerable from the highly contagious delta variants,” Health Minister Umair A. Shah, MD , MPH said. “Science continues to show that vaccines are our best tool to protect communities and slow the spread of COVID-19.”
People who receive the third dose should be vaccinated at least 28 days after the second dose. Where possible, individuals should be vaccinated with the same vaccine as the first two doses, but if there is no other vaccine, they can be vaccinated with other mRNA vaccine brands. Currently, it is not recommended for people who have received the Janssen vaccine to receive additional vaccination. People receiving Johnson & Johnson treatment should not get a second dose of Johnson & Johnson or a dose of mRNA vaccine. In addition, people with a healthy immune system should not receive the third dose.
