The number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has increased in California, prompting health officials to recommend a third (booster) dose of vaccines for immunocompromised individuals, according to Turlock Journal.
The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (SCHSA) has also advised immunocompromised people to get a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to affect the state.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has also recommended a third shot for some individuals.
CDPH Director Dr. Tomás Aragón said, “As California continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, it is critical we take action to protect immunocompromised people who are most vulnerable to severe disease.”
“Following the FDA’s determination that a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine is beneficial for people who are immunocompromised,” he added, “the California Department of Public Health and our partners in the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup have conducted an additional review and recommend providers boost immunity for this population to ensure extra protection from COVID-19.”
“Those who are not in this population and are fully vaccinated continue to be protected against the virus and do not need additional immunization against COVID-19 at this time,” concluded Dr. Aragón.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced emergency approval of the third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for immunocompromised people.
Immunocompromised people who qualify for the booster dose include organ transplant recipients and those who have cancer, HIV, and other immune-related disorders.
The SCHSA said the third dose of the vaccines will be available through vaccination sites that currently offer Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
People who received a single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine are not eligible for the boosters dose of either Pfizer or Moderna. Meanwhile, the FDA is still assessing the efficacy of the J&J vaccine in immunocompromised people.
Also, the booster dose is not yet approved for use in the general population. However, that may change as soon as public health officials examine the data.
Stanislaus County has recorded 62,520 cases of COVID-19, with 2,114 presumed active and 1,108 deaths, as of Monday, according to Turlock Journal. Turlock city has had 7,788 total confirmed cases and 831 probable cases of COVID-19.
