FDA approves 3rd COVID-19 vaccine jab for immunocompromised people

The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has revised the emergency use authorizations (EUA) status of the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines to permit people with weakened immune systems to receive its third dose.

The move comes after a panel of CDC experts gathered in July and advised higher doses for immunocompromised adults.

Doctors believe it's becoming increasingly evident that many of these people are still vulnerable to Covid after vaccination because their immune systems may not generate a strong reaction to the doses.

According to the CDC, around 2.7% of adults in the United States are immunocompromised. It is uncertain which groups will be covered under the FDA's forthcoming action. Organ transplant recipients, cancer patients, and HIV patients are just a few examples of immunocompromised patients.

For example, organ transplant recipients are required to take medications to lower their immune systems response so that their bodies can accept new organs. Yet, after being vaccinated, most of these patients never produced antibodies to the coronavirus, claims a study. The others merely created minimal defenses.

According to that study conducted by Johns Hopkins University, the third dose of vaccination increased the immunity levels of such cases.

Notably, the emergency use authorization excludes fully vaccinated people, otherwise healthy people. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are highly successful in reducing hospitalization and death in these individuals.

The CDC advisory group is scheduled to meet Friday, where it may vote on whether to recommend the third shot for immunocompromised people officially. The panel must give its approval before doctors can start recommending larger doses.

Such a vote is held after the FDA takes regulatory action, such as the expected adjustment to the emergency use authorization.

The Mississippi Department of Health advised that immunocompromised persons take an additional vaccine shot, even though federal health officials have not yet signed on it.

Source Credit - https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-poised-ok-third-vaccine-dose-immune-compromised-people-n1276602