WA Health Department recommends 4 vaccine shots for those with weakened immune systems

A fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine can help some people with weakened immune systems fend off severe illness with COVID-19, the Washington Department of Health said in a news release Thursday.

Certain individuals who are immunocompromised should receive four doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which includes two primary doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, an additional primary dose, and a booster dose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people ages 5 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an additional primary shot (third dose) of a vaccine 28 days after receiving their second dose. An additional primary shot may prevent serious and possibly life-threatening COVID-19 in people who may not have responded well to their two-dose COVID-19 vaccine primary series.

Currently, no additional primary shot is recommended for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

According to the CDC, people are considered moderately or severely immunocompromised if they 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 or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection.
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress their immune system.

Everyone 12 years of age and older, including immunocompromised people, should get a booster shot when they are eligible, DOH officials recommend. Those who received Pfizer or Moderna should get a booster five months after completing their primary series, and people who received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster two months after their first dose.

“COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, but some immunocompromised individuals don’t get strong enough immunity following their initial two-dose series,” said Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, the state’s chief science officer.

People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional primary shot is appropriate. For more information, visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Washington State Department of Health’s website.

This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 12:56 PM.