CDPHE Advises Vaccination Providers to Give Additional Doses of Covid-19 Vaccines

 

Teller County Public Health and Environment will begin

administering additional doses of Covid-19 Vaccine

to protect immunocompromised individuals 

Additional Information for individuals eligible to receive the booster dose under the FDA recommendation, is available on the Teller County webpage:  Tellercovid.com/testing.   Teller County Public Health and Environment will keep the public informed as additional populations become eligible for a booster dose.

 

Teller County- On August 12, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended Emergency Use Authorizations for both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of an additional dose after the first two doses in certain immunocompromised people.  In response to the CDC signing and endorsing the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation, the State of Colorado advises vaccination providers to offer an additional dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to moderately to severely immunocompromised Coloradans. This recommendation pertains to immunocompromised persons who received the mRNA two-dose vaccine series.

 

In a joint statement on August 18, 2021, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) stated, “We are prepared to offer booster shots for all Americans beginning the week of September 20 and starting 8 months after an individual’s second dose. At that time, the individuals who were fully vaccinated earliest in the vaccination rollout, including many health care providers, nursing home residents, and other seniors, will likely be eligible for a booster. We would also begin efforts to deliver booster shots directly to residents of long-term care facilities at that time, given the distribution of vaccines to this population early in the vaccine rollout and the continued increased risk that COVID-19 poses to them.”

HSS also added, “We also anticipate booster shots will likely be needed for people who received the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine. Administration of the J&J vaccine did not begin in the U.S. until March 2021, and we expect more data on J&J in the next few weeks. With those data in hand, we will keep the public informed with a timely plan for J&J booster shots as well. Our top priority remains staying ahead of the virus and protecting the American people from COVID-19 with safe, effective, and long-lasting vaccines especially in the context of a constantly changing virus and epidemiologic landscape. We will continue to follow the science on a daily basis, and we are prepared to modify this plan should new data emerge that requires it.”

“Our goal is to ensure that our immunocompromised community members continue to be prioritized while we follow the state guidance to administer an additional dose of mRNA vaccines to make sure they have enough protection against COVID-19,” said Teller County Public Health Director Martha Hubbard “We will administer that additional dose immediately through our scheduled vaccination clinics as long as the recipient has had at least four weeks since their second dose. 

It is recommended that individuals with the following conditions receive an additional dose:

• Individiuals receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood.

• Individuals that received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.

• Anyone who has received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or is taking medicine to suppress the immune system.

• Individuals with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).

• Anyone with advanced or untreated HIV infection.

• Anyone undergoing active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response.

The additional dose should be the same vaccine product as the first two doses. However, an alternate mRNA dose can be used if that vaccine is not available. Additional doses are free. No ID, insurance, or proof of medical history is required to receive an additional dose. Coloradans may self-report their immunocompromising conditions to vaccine providers. 

In addition to receiving an additional mRNA dose, moderately to severely immunocompromised people should also take the following steps to protect themselves and others from COVID-19: wear a mask, stay six feet apart from people you don’t live with, and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. Close contacts of immunocompromised people should also be vaccinated against COVID-19.  Although still limited to two doses, this will ensure close contacts are not compromising the health of their at risk friends and family.