People with weak immune systems should get administered with covid-19 vaccine’s booster doses for better protection against the deadly virus, the United States’ drug controller said today.
The move is an implementation of the much-anticipated shot for Americans who are more vulnerable than others to the delta variant of coronavirus, which is accounting for the majority of cases in the US.
Announcing the new shield for citizens, acting FDA Commissioner Dr Janet Woodcock said in a statement, “Today’s action allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from COVID-19.”
People who are immunocompromised, including those who are organ transplant recipients, belong to the high-risk group and are hence, eligible to get a third dose of either Pfizer or Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine, the agency said. Presently, those who do not fall under this category, do not require the third dose, it added as such people are “adequately protected”.
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However, the Food and Drug Administration’s decision does not hold the final power to begin third doses. The CDCP (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) will hold a meeting amongst its vaccine advisory committee members on Friday to ascertain the requirement of extra doses for vulnerable Americans. Their recommendation and go-ahead for the shots combined with CDC’s nod will induce immediate administrations of the shots.
Speaking about the federal health officials’ thoughts on the matter, White House chief medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci said last week that they are making efforts to speed up the regulatory requirements for third doses to be cleared for administration to people with weak immune systems like cancer and HIV patients, and organ transplant recipients. According to the new data collected, 2 doses of the covid-19 vaccine do not trigger enough immune response in such people.
On Thursday, the CMA said, “Immunocompromised individuals are vulnerable. It is extremely important for us to move to get those individuals their boosters, and we are now working on that, and we will make that be implemented as quickly as possible. … It is a very high priority.”
Though these high-risk people become only 2.7 per cent of the total US adult population, they account for 44 per cent of patients hospitalized despite being full vaccinated against covid-19, as per CDCP advisory group’s recent data released.
16% to 80% of these vulnerable people lacked antibodies to fight the virus, even after the 2 shots. The revelation was stated by the CDC last month, citing the results of 4 small studies. After giving a third dose, 33% to 50% of people whose immune system had no antibodies, developed antibody responses, the agency added.
While doctors are worried for people with a weakened immune system during a time when the delta variant has become dominant, some of these people are taking third doses on their own to stay protected.
Apart from the US’s plan, France has already begun vaccinating its high-risk group with extra doses.
