NEW CITY – A third dose of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is available to people with certain medical conditions that compromise their immune system, Rockland County officials said Wednesday.
Recent data shows that persons who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are more at risk of serious, prolonged illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional vaccine dose.
The recommendation by the CDC is for moderately to severely immunocompromised people to receive a third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after their second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
Currently, there is insufficient data to support the use of an additional Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine dose after a single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination series in immunocompromised people. The Federal Drug Administration and CDC are actively working to provide guidance on this issue.
Third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine should be the same as what you initially received. If the vaccine given for the first two doses is not available, the other vaccine may be administered. A person should not receive more than three Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses.
The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to keep from getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. In addition, continue following the CDC’s public health prevention measures, such as wear a mask indoors, stay 6 feet away from others not within your household, wash your hands often, and stay home if you are sick to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
