(CNN) — People with certain health conditions that cause them to be moderately or severely immunosuppressed may need a fourth dose of one vaccine of mRNA against covid-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, for its acronym in English).
The CDC authorized a third dose for certain immunosuppressed people 18 years of age and older in August. Research showed that a booster dose improved the antibody response in some people under these conditions. In October, the CDC approved the booster doses for a broader range of the population.
For the immunosuppressed, the CDC says they could receive a booster dose – which would be a fourth injection – at least six months after they received the third dose of an mRNA vaccine.
People who are moderately or severely immunosuppressed include those on active treatment for leukemia or cancer tumors, certain organ and stem cell transplant recipients, people with advanced or untreated HIV, and those taking a high dose corticosteroids or other medicines that can suppress your immune system.
Immunosuppressed individuals who received the single-dose vaccine of Johnson & Johnson they should get a booster at least two months after the initial vaccination. People who choose Moderna’s booster vaccine, even if they received a different vaccine as their first dose, should receive the half-dose authorized as a booster for Moderna’s vaccine, the CDC said.
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