CDC Recommends Extra Vaccine Shot For People With Weakened Immune Systems

CDC is recommending extra vaccine shots for the immunocompromised, according to a recent report by CNBC.

The recommendation comes from an advisory panel within the CDC, which comes a day after the FDA finally approved the emergency use of extra COVID-19 vaccine jabs for those with weakened immune systems. They're specifically recommending shots from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna as the boosters to be used.

Now that the recommendation has been made, it's going to need approval from CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. It's her final decision to go with the committee's suggestion, which will then be relayed down to the ground level so patients can get an extra dose.

These so-called vaccine boosters are proving to be the best and only way to stem the surge of Delta variant cases in the US as fast as possible. However, the immunocompromised folks are among those who are in the gravest danger.

According to data from the CDC, almost 3 percent of Americans are currently immunocompromised. This puts them at great risk of getting hospitalized or dying from Delta, sweeping throughout the US and causing massive surges not seen since the early days of the pandemic.

CDC's Race Against Delta

The Delta COVID-19 variant, which was first detected in India (and the cause of the massive death toll there earlier this year), now comprises 80%-87% of all new coronavirus cases in the US, according to ScienceMag. Aside from maintaining public health protocols, the single greatest weapon that the CDC wields against this extremely contagious variant is the vaccine.

However, it now looks like the CDC is fighting a pandemic war on multiple fronts. Aside from dealing with the onslaught of Delta, they're also doing what they can to help curb the spread of false information among the public. Earlier, the CDC already recommended that vaccinated people still wear masks inside potential hotspots, as part of their attempts in handling the current surge of infections.

Obviously, they can't put out all fires at once. There are recent reports that anti-vaxxers are using the CDC's own data about the surge to fuel their misinformation campaigns. If these people aren't stopped, then the immunocompromised folks will have to deal with a life or death situation without those extra vaccine shots.

What's Next?

As soon as immunocompromised patients receive their vaccine boosters, what's next? The answer is far from positive, but it seems like it's better than nothing.

According to infectious disease expert Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot, the CDC's recommendation doesn't always mean the immunocompromised will be out of harm's way. These people will be safer, but their weakened immune systems still pose a risk of severe illness and death.

If you or someone you know is one of these people slated to get the extra shots, keep in mind that no one can be too careful these days. Even if you finally get the vaccine, protecting against Delta will still require wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance as much as you can.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by RJ Pierce