3rd COVID Vaccine Dose For Immunocompromised: What To Know In WA

OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Health is now recommending that immunocompromised Washingtonians take a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the DOH, the third dose is not the same as a booster shot. Instead, it's an additional dose of the same exact vaccine patients already got, which studies indicate will help those who did not develop full immunity with the initial two-dose series.

“A third dose of Pfizer or Moderna will provide those who need it extra protection and help shield some of our most vulnerable from the highly contagious delta variant,” said Washington Secretary of Health Dr. Umair A. Shah. “Science continues to show vaccines are the best tool we have to protect our communities and slow the spread of COVID-19.”

Under DOH and CDC guidelines, people who are "moderately to severely immunocompromised" should schedule a third dose. That includes:

• Patients receiving cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood.
• Organ transplant recipients who are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
• Anyone who has received a stem cell transplant within the last two years.
• Patients with moderate to severe immunodeficiency like those with DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and advanced or untreated HIV.
• Anyone currently taking high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress the immune system.

If you meet one of the above criteria, the DOH says to seek out a third dose. Any patient taking a third dose of the COVID-19 should get it at least 28 days after the second dose. The DOH also recommends that patients receive the same vaccine as the first two doses if possible, but can swap from Moderna to Pfizer or vice versa if the correct dose is not available.

Notably, the DOH says patients who got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine should not seek a second dose of any vaccine type. People who are not immunocompromised also should not seek a third dose, the DOH said.

According to the CDC, patients who take the third dose may have similar reactions to the two-dose series, namely mild to moderate fatigue and pain at the injection site.

Even with the third dose, the DOH says people who are immunocompromised will need to continue to be wary of the coronavirus, and should wear masks, practice social distancing, and avoid crowds and places with poor ventilation.