HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO BEGIN OFFERING THIRD DOSES OF COVID-19 VACCINE FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department will begin offering third doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. Only moderately and severely immunocompromised individuals are eligible to receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at this time.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently approved and recommended a third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised individuals. A second dose of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is not included in this approval.
The FDA and CDC defines immunocompromised individuals as:
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 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
· Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
· Advanced or untreated HIV infection
· Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
More information on the CDC’s recommendation for an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is available online. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions about whether a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine is appropriate for you.
Individuals wanting to receive a third dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine are not required to present documentation proving medical condition.
CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population at this time.
The health department offers Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No appointment required.
Call the Jackson-Madison County Public Information Line at 731-240-1771 for more information.
Find more information about COVID-19 from the Tennessee Department of Health at https://covid19.tn.gov/. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated information and guidance available online at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.