City Of Fairfax: Third Dose Vaccinations Now Available For Individuals Who Are Immunocompromised

Press release from the City of Fairfax :

08/16/2021 1:30 PM

Residents of the Fairfax Health District who have immune systems that are compromised due to medical conditions or are receiving immunosuppressive medications or treatments and who have received two doses of an mRNA CODIV-19 vaccine (Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna) are now eligible to receive a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the Fairfax County Health Department clinics.

This updated guidance follows authorization of the third dose mRNA vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommendation by CDC. The Virginia Department of Health announced this update late Friday, Aug. 13 and Fairfax Health District officials worked to update their administrative processes so that eligible individuals would be able to receive their third vaccination at health department clinics beginning Saturday, Aug. 14.

The third dose should be administered at least 28 days after the second dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine. People 12 years and older can receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and individuals 18 years and older can receive the Moderna vaccine. The third dose should be the same mRNA vaccine as the primary series. The Fairfax County Health Department is supplying only Pfizer vaccine at this time. People who received the Moderna vaccine can visit vaccines.gov to find a provider.

An additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after an initial two-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series should be considered for people with moderate to severe immune compromise due to a medical condition or receipt of immunosuppressive medications or treatments. These conditions and treatments include but are not limited to:

There is no proof of medical condition required to receive a third dose of vaccine at one of the Fairfax County Health Department vaccination sites, and individuals will not be asked to provide medical documentation.

While available evidence shows that a third dose provides a modest benefit to improving the immune response to mRNA vaccination, it is important to remember that immunocompromised people might still not have a strong level of protection against COVID-19, even after receiving a third dose of vaccine.  Additional COVID-19 precautions remain important and include wearing a mask, maintaining physical distance from others outside of the home, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. People who are immunocompromised are encouraged to consult with their medical provider.

There is not enough information to recommend an additional vaccine dose for people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Studies are currently underway to evaluate the protection provided by the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to people with weakened immune systems. Recommendations for these people will be coming in the near future. The CDC does not recommend that people with a compromised immune system who have received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine start a new vaccination series with Pfizer or Moderna.

For more information COVID-19 vaccination clinics, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for updates on locations, hours of operation and other helpful resources for the Fairfax Health District.

This press release was produced by the City of Fairfax. The views expressed here are the author’s own.