Kings health officials say third-dose offered for COVID-19 immunocompromised persons

Health officials say that booster doses are not available to individuals who received the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine at this time. Research into the efficacy of a second dose Janssen booster is ongoing, as well as mRNA vaccine boosters for additional populations. It is anticipated that a booster dose will be approved for the general 65 and older population in the coming weeks.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) authorization of an additional third dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine covers people ages 12 and up receiving treatments associated with moderate to severe immune compromise. This includes individuals who have :

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last two 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

Contact your primary medical provider for questions about whether your individual medical conditions and/or medical history qualify you as immunocompromised. People are strongly encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider about whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them before making an appointment.

To make an appointment, visit https://myturn.ca.gov. An additional self-attestation to immunocompromised status will be required at the time of your appointment and verification of first and second does with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

For a full list of qualifying conditions and additional information on COVID-19 boosters, visit the CDC webpage on COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendationsl/immuno.html.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) COVID-19 booster FAQ can be found at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/ThirdVaccineDoseQandA.aspx