Following recommendations from health experts and scientiststhatimmunocompromised individuals should receive a third COVID-19 vaccine,Riverside County says there are "no issues with supplies" as it prepares to administer the boosterdoses.
CVS pharmaciesbegan administering a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines on Saturday, according to spokespersonMonica Prinzing.Immunocompromised individuals are able to make an appointment for their third dosethrough CVS' website, and they will be required to attest to their eligibility during the scheduling process and at the time of receiving their vaccination.
Rite Aidstateseligibleimmunocompromised individuals should walk into any store andpharmacists will be able toassist them. Walgreens also advises people to talk with their doctor about their medical condition and whether they should receive a third dose. If they are eligible, they are advised to come into a Walgreen pharmacy.
LastThursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizationsforthe Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allowan additional dose for some immunocompromised individuals.
The next day, theCenters for Disease Control and Preventionannounced it was recommending the third vaccine doseto people who are "moderately to severely immunocompromised" at least 28 days after theyfullycompleted the two-dose Pfizer orModernashots.
Biden administration health officialsare also expected to recommend COVID-19 booster shots for all Americans, regardless of age, eightmonths after they received the second shot of Pfizer or Moderna due to rising delta variant cases nationwide. The announcement may come as soon as this week.
Read more:COVID-19: Riverside County reports 1,044 cases, 6 hospitalizations, 1 death on Monday
More:US expected to recommend vaccine boosters for all Americans amid alarming case surge
For now, immunocompromised individuals who should seek a third vaccine dose include:
- those being treated for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies;
- solid organ transplant recipients; people who have received stem cell transplants within the last two years
- individuals with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency;
- people with advanced or untreated HIV infection;
- people takingimmunosuppressive drugs.
Immunocompromised individuals make up about 3% of the U.S. adult population, according to the CDC.
"Emerging data suggest some people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not always build the same level of immunity compared to people who are not immunocompromised," saidCDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky in a statement."In addition,in small studies, fully vaccinated immunocompromised people have accounted for a large proportion of hospitalized breakthrough cases."Immunocompromised individuals sick with COVID-19 are also more likely totransmit it to other members of their household.
According to a U.S. study,among 45 patients with vaccine-breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalizations, 20 (44.4%) had immunosuppression.Vaccine effectiveness after a complete two-dose regimen was also lower among immunosuppressed patients (59.2%) than thosewithout immunosuppression (91.3%).
Amongimmunosuppressed peoplewho did not have a detectable antibody response to the initial Pfizer or Modernaregimen, 33% to 50% developed an antibody response following a third dose, according to four studies.
Earlier this week, theWestern States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, made upofscientists with expertise in immunization and public health who independently review the FDA’s actions related to COVID-19 vaccines, also announced it supports the recommendation.
Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, California Department of Public Health director and state public health officer, said in a statement following the review:“As California continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, it is critical we take action to protect immunocompromised people who are most vulnerable to severe disease.”
Riverside County spokesperson Jose Arballo Jr. said the county is currently "working on guidance/plans on how the third dose will be administered." He added he is not aware of any providers administering the third dose in Riverside County, but "it is possible it is taking place." Currently,Arballo said, he has not heard of any plans to reopen mass vaccination sites.
Thirddoses willbe administered through the county's mobile clinics andvaccine partners such as Curative, which has a vaccination site at the Indio Fairgrounds, andOptumServe.Arballo advises individuals to visit the county's vaccine website to find locations and upcoming mobile clinic dates.
When asked if theadditional dose would pose any shortages for the county's vaccine supply, Arballo said "there are no issues with supplies" at this time.
Arballo said the county receivesapproximately8,000 vaccine doses a week, depending on demand. Riverside County has beenaveraging approximately 2,500 to 2,700 vaccines administered per week from Riverside University Health System Public Health and partner sites.
Overall, Riverside County has received1,360,550 vaccine doses and administered2,511,618 doses.CVS, Kaiser Permanenteand other multi-county entities and vaccine providers are not counted in the doses received figure, but are counted in doses administered, according to the county vaccine dashboard.The total administered figure also includes Riverside County residents vaccinated out of the county.
Booster shots for all are expected
Booster shots for all individuals will begin as early as mid-to-late Septemberonce the FDA formally approves vaccines. Theaction is expected for the Pfizer shot in the coming weeks.
The countywill be waiting for guidance from the state before moving forward with any booster shots, Arballo said.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Ema Sasic covers health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
