On Aug. 13, 2021, the CDC updated its COVID-19 vaccination guidelines to include a third injection for immunocompromised patients. Longstreet Clinic will follow guidelines consistent with the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health for administering this third dose. These include persons in/with:
- Active treatment for a solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
- Receipt of solid organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
- Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within two years of translation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
- Moderate or severe immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge, Wiskott-Aldrich syndromes)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high dose corticosteroids (i.e., >/= 20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), Alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents that are immunosuppressive, TNF blockers and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory
- Chronic medical conditions such as asplenia and chronic renal disease may be associated with varying degrees of immune deficit.
Longstreet Clinic will use our Urgent Care (Gainesville) and Family Medicine (Oakwood) locations to administer third doses as outlined above (click here for hours). Using the GRITS database, our staff will verify that the patient has received both doses of either Moderna or Pfizer at least 28 days prior to third dose date. (Those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are not eligible for a third dose at this time.)
Immunocompromised people who receive a third dose should continue following infection prevention measures such as wearing a mask, washing their hands, social distancing and avoiding crowds. Family members of the immunocompromised are encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they have not been already.
Third doses for the immunocompromised are not the same as proposed “boosters” in the news recently. Rules and guidelines around booster shots for those fully vaccinated have not been finalized. So far, the FDA has not recommended approval of boosters to those who are not immunocompromised.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, click here.
