Carle patients with weakened immune systems, whether from chronic diseases, organ transplants or other conditions have taken extra precautions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. People who experience these medical conditions are at greater risk for contracting the disease and greater risk of a more severe experience. To combat this ongoing challenge, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released the recommendation for moderate and severely immunocompromised individuals to receive an additional dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19.
Carle medical experts encourage all patients diagnosed with conditions that weaken the immune system to receive an additional dose.
“This vulnerable group has so much to consider when keeping their health strong,” Robert Healy, MD, chief medical quality officer said. “An additional dose offers an added layer of protection and the recommendation gives clear guidance on one way to find more support for those who are immunocompromised.”
Carle Health has ample vaccine supply and clinical access for all Carle patients who meet the CDC recommendations for an additional dose. Representatives will contact applicable patients directly in the coming days to schedule an appointment for an additional dose.
The additional dose is only applicable to patients who are immunocompromised and have completed a primary vaccine series of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna dose and are fully vaccinated, which is approximately two weeks after completion of the series.
Patients who are immunocompromised include but are not limited to:
Visit carle.org for more information on the COVID-19 vaccine.
Carle medical experts encourage all patients diagnosed with conditions that weaken the immune system to receive an additional dose.
“This vulnerable group has so much to consider when keeping their health strong,” Robert Healy, MD, chief medical quality officer said. “An additional dose offers an added layer of protection and the recommendation gives clear guidance on one way to find more support for those who are immunocompromised.”
Carle Health has ample vaccine supply and clinical access for all Carle patients who meet the CDC recommendations for an additional dose. Representatives will contact applicable patients directly in the coming days to schedule an appointment for an additional dose.
The additional dose is only applicable to patients who are immunocompromised and have completed a primary vaccine series of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna dose and are fully vaccinated, which is approximately two weeks after completion of the series.
Patients who are immunocompromised include but are not limited to:
- Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
- Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
- Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.
Visit carle.org for more information on the COVID-19 vaccine.
Categories: Staying Healthy
Tags: CDC, COVID, COVID-19, disease, infectious, pandemic, shot, vaccination, vaccine