BPHC Bulletin: CDC Guidance on Additional COVID-19 Vaccine for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People

Last week, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that people whose immune systems are moderately to severely compromised receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least four weeks after an initial two-dose mRNA series. See their statement.

ACIP’s recommendation follows FDA’s decision to amend Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) in support of this allowance.

The FDA’s recent EUA amendment only applies to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (i.e., Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), as does CDC’s recommendation. According to the CDC, there is not enough data at this time to determine whether immunocompromised people who received Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine also have an improved antibody response following an additional dose of the same vaccine.

These resources can help your providers and your patients understand what this means:

• Updated Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States
  
  
• COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People – This new page for consumers includes a full list of relevant conditions and some FAQs.
  
  
• Talking with Patients Who Are Immunocompromised – This new page is for providers. It includes talking points to:
  • Help patients understand this is NOT a booster. This is an additional dose that will help those who are immunocompromised achieve a stronger immune response.
  • Help patients who received the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine understand why this doesn’t apply to them.

Health Center COVID-19 Survey
As soon as possible, we’ll share additional guidance on how this will impact data reporting through the Health Center COVID-19 Survey, including the addendum for Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program participants. Please look out for further information in a future BPHC Bulletin and in the Primary Health Care Digest.