Third dose of Vaccination for Immune Suppressed Patients
August 19, 2021
A statement from our Global Medical Advisory Board
On August 12th, the FDA authorized that a third dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) may be given to patients who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. Patients who are considered immune-suppressed are those who are under active treatment for solid tumors or hematologic malignancies, solid tumor transplantations, stem cell transplantation, primary immune deficiencies, advance HIV infection, and patients who are receiving treatment with high dose corticosteroids such a prednisone, chemotherapy, and other biologic immunosuppressive agents. Immunoglobulin products including IVIG and SCIG are not immunosuppressive, and therefore patients with CIDP or GBS that are treated with only IVIG or SCIG do not meet the FDA’s recommendation for third vaccination at this time.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. The GBS/CIDP global medical advisory board encourages eligible patients to proceed with booster vaccines in accordance with the FDA recommendations, and we encourage patients to discuss their immune status with their physician to determine if they meet the FDA’s vaccination recommendations. If a patient received the first and second dose of vaccination without serious adverse effect, it is highly likely that a 3rd vaccination will also be well tolerated. Pfizer is approved for ages 12 years and older and Moderna for 18 years and older. Patients who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are not recommended to receive additional doses of vaccine at this time.