Specifically, for those who are immunocompromised, the CDC has approved a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine if the second dose was received at least 28 days ago. Some examples of what might qualify you for this third dose are:
- Active cancer treatment
- Organ transplant recipient
- Recent stem cell transplant recipient
- Taking medication to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high dose corticosteroids
People with moderately to severely compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 and may not build the same level of immunity to the two-dose vaccine series compared to people who are not immunocompromised. This additional dose is intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series.