People with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are more at risk of serious, prolonged illness. This includes people 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 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
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who have weakened immune systems may benefit from an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to make sure they have enough protection against the virus. CDC is now recommending that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population at this time.
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