The Unified Government Health Department will begin offering additional doses of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines today for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, according to a news release.
Those moderately to severely immunocompromised persons who have already been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine can receive a third dose, according to the news release.
This follows authorization by the FDA as well as the recommendation of the CDC and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to provide third vaccine doses for immunocompromised persons, according to the news release. The expanded emergency use authorization from the FDA does not apply to persons who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. At this time there is not enough data to determine if an additional dose of Johnson and Johnson vaccine will improve immune response in people who are immunocompromised, the Health Department stated.
Why these doses are offered
Third doses of mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) were authorized by the FDA for people who are immunocompromised, meaning people who have health conditions that significantly weaken their immune system, according to the Health Departmenet. For these individuals, their immune system is not able to mount the typical level of immune response with two doses of these vaccines. Adding a third dose helps increase immunity in order to protect a population that is already at higher risk for serious illness or hospitalization if they get COVID.
Offering additional doses for people who are immunocompromised is different from offering vaccine “boosters” for anyone, according to the Health Department. Booster shots for any immunizations can function to either increase immunity that has waned over time or protect against new virus strains. COVID vaccine boosters for the general population have not been authorized by the FDA at this time. The UGPHD asked that fully vaccinated people who are not immunocompromised
do not seek out third doses at this time, and encourages these individuals to await further information and recommendations.
Who is eligible for an additional vaccine dose?
Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have:
• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood (hematologic malignancies)
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant (CAR-T-Cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant) within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response (alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, TNF blockers and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory)
These individuals must have already received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, and it must be at least 28 days since their second dose.
People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
How it works at the Kmart vaccination site
People who live in Wyandotte County age 12 and older who meet the eligibility criteria above can now come to the UGPHD’s vaccination facility to get their third dose of either Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccination for free.
• The UGPHD encourages patients to bring their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card to help expedite the process.
• Patients will be asked to sign a form attesting that they need an additional COVID vaccine dose because they are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
• Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A parent or guardian must sign the attestation form on behalf of their child.
Free COVID-19 vaccinations are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at the former Kmart building at 7836 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas.
Learn more about COVID vaccines and resources at WycoVaccines.org or by calling 3-1-1.