CDC Recommends 3rd Vaccine Dose For Immunocompromised ...

The move follows the FDA's authorization of such use a day earlier.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is officially recommending that people with weakened immune systems get a third shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.It comes hours after a unanimous vote by a panel of advisers Friday to recommend the guidance and less than 24 hours after the Food and Drug Administration authorized such use.Providers generally wait for a CDC recommendation on vaccine use, even if the FDA has approved or authorized a vaccine.Immunocompromised people make up about 2.7% of U.S. adults, or around 7 million people. Representatives of both agencies said they are "actively engaged" to determine the best course of action for recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.In a presentation to the committee, the CDC's Dr. Kathleen Dooling said immunocompromised people, including those who receive an additional dose, should continue to follow prevention measures, including wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others they don't live with and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces until their health care provider advises otherwise.Close contacts of immunocompromised people should be strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19, she said.Separately, the CDC said about 1.1 million people who do not necessarily have immune system dysfunction have already received one or more additional doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.