A fourth COVID-19 shot may be needed for some immunocompromised people, CDC advises

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its Covid-19 guidelines to add that some immunocompromised people may need a fourth vaccine shot.

Booster shots have begun rolling out for those who qualify for them. Officials have just announced that some of the people who already qualify for the first booster shot may need a second booster.

On the CDC website, there is a page that details the Covid-19 vaccine procedures and information. In the booster information section, they updated it to read: “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. In such situations, people who are moderately and severely immunocompromised may receive a total of four COVID-19 vaccine doses.”

Last week, the FDA gave the all-clear for people to “mix-and-match” their vaccine and boosters, meaning that if someone got Pfizer for their first two shots, they could get Moderna or Johnson&Johnson for their booster shot. People are being encouraged to get their booster shot as there is reportedly “waning immunity” among some fully vaccinated people (Associated Press). However, not everyone qualifies for a booster shot- yet.

To qualify for the Pfizer or Moderna booster, patients must be 65 years or older or any 18 and older who lives in long-term care settings, has underlying medical conditions, and/or lives or works in high-risk settings. In addition, it must be at least 6 months after their second shot. For the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen, patients must be 18 years or older and at least two months past their second shot.