MADISON, Wis. — U.S. health regulators have authorized an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccines in people with weakened immune systems to better protect them from the virus.
For those who are immunocompromised, this comes as good news for the future.
“I’ve been immunocompromised since I was young,” said Sun Prairie resident Julieanna Ricciardi. “When I was 6 or 7 I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and then later found out that I had fructose malabsorption and intestinal issues.”
The FDA approved booster shots for organ transplant patients, cancer patients, those with HIV and people with weakened immune systems.
Although Ricciardi isn’t among the first group of people who have been prioritized to get the booster shot, it makes her hopeful for the months to come when booster shots may be approved for a wider range of immunocompromised individuals.
“It would definitely give me peace of mind because my family is also immunocompromised so we would feel a lot better especially with the new strains of COVID coming out, I’d feel more comfortable,” Ricciardi said.
“Their immune systems can’t mount a normal response, including to vaccines,” said UW Health’s Dr. Bill Hartman. “Their antibody levels are much lower. Given this third dose of Pfizer or Moderna, it’s really going to boost their immune response.”
Hartman said people who are eligible for the booster shot should wait two months after receiving their second shot to get the booster.
Hartman believes this is just the first step toward approving a booster shot for more Americans in the months to come.
SSM Health commented on the matter saying, “Once we get the final recommendation from the CDC, we will reach out to our patients who meet the criteria to schedule boosters. Please feel free to contact us once the guidance is final if you have not heard from us. If needed, patients can be provided the below COVID-19 Vaccination Phone Lines which will have updated scripting on the status:
- Dean Medical Group: 608-250-1222 (7 am – 8 pm weekdays, 8 am – 5 pm weekends)
- Agnesian HealthCare: 920-926-8400 (7 am – 5 pm weekdays)
- Monroe Clinic: 608-324-1815 (8 am – 5 pm weekdays)
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