AKRON, Ohio — The Summit County Health Department will offer immunocompromised residents a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine beginning Tuesday, the department announced.
The announcement comes as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for those immunocompromised. Federal health officials say that evidence has shown that two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine might not be enough to fully protect the most vulnerable to the worst effects of COVID-19.
“Emerging data suggest some people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not always build the same level of immunity compared to people who are not immunocompromised," Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said. "While people who are immunocompromised make up about 3% of the U.S. adult population, they are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are more at risk of serious, prolonged illness."
Summit County said it is currently offering the Pfizer vaccine, and not the Moderna variety, to those eligible. Twenty-eight days need to pass between the second and third doses, according to the Summit County Health Department.
The CDC says the following groups are eligible for a third shot:
- People who have recently undergone, or are currently undergoing, treatment for tumors or blood cancers
- People who have received organ transplants, or people who have recently received stem cell transplants
- People with advanced or untreated HIV
- People with conditions that weaken or damage the immune system
- People with chronic medical conditions, such as chronic kidney disease or asplenia, which weaken the immune system
“We continue our fight against COVID-19 and its variants. This extra dose will help those immunocompromised individuals who are at heightened risk for serious outcomes from COVID-19,” said Health Commissioner Kirkland Norris.
Summit County said that walk-in appointments for those needing a third dose are not available. They’re encouraging those seeking a third COVID-19 shot to book an appointment online.
Summit County health officials stressed that the third shot should not be considered a “booster dose.”
On Tuesday, reports surfaced that federal health officials will recommend Americans getting a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine eight months after the second dose.
The idea of administering a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before many in the world have gotten their first shot has been controversial. Andy Slavitt, who previously led the White House’s fight against the virus, said that administering the same people with the vaccine might lead to more variants of the coronavirus.
“Right now 10 countries are using 90% of the vaccines. If those (rich) countries kept reusing new vaccine supply every 6 months, we will perpetuate this issue,” he said.
“Only tough choices exist in a world of scarcity The public should understand the policy choices here & the implications of what we decide not just on us, not just in the pandemic, but on everyone,” he added.