A team of independent advisers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that Federal authorities should quickly decide on whether people who have weakened immune systems should get an extra shot of the COVID19 vaccine to elevate their immune response to the shots. Experts have recommended this after the CDC has given a presentation on the latest study on how people with weakened immune systems might or might not react to COVID19 shot to an outside group that is known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Many studies have shown that such patients who are immunocompromised might be susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus even after vaccination. Health experts have said that the weakened immune systems of these patients might not be able to trigger a robust immune response against the virus after inoculation. The CDC has reported that nearly 2.7 percent of adults in the United States are diagnosed with immunocompromised health issues on average. Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, who is working as an internal medicine specialist has said that such patients who are dealing with weak immune systems are not leaving any stone unturned to be vaccinated and getting their close contacts vaccinated. Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is also a member of the American Medical Association’s board of trustees. Health care workers and frontline workers who have been treating severe COVID19 patients as well have said that people who are dealing with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of contracting the virus.
The director of the medical intensive care unit at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Todd Rice has said that people who have been admitted to hospitals with severe disease even after vaccination have been diagnosed with weakened immune systems. All of them have been dealing with damaged immune systems. Dr. Rice has said that apart from those, other patients who have been hospitalized have not been vaccinated. A study that has been co-authored by Todd Rice has found that nearly 44 percent of hospitalized breakthrough incidents who have been infected even after being fully vaccinated with two doses of COVID19 shots have occurred among people who have weakened immune systems. These people have been so ill that they have required hospitalization. This study has been emphasized by the CDC as well. However, it has not been peer-reviewed yet. Health experts have said that they have been doing many studies to test the safety and efficiency of an additional shot of the COVID19 vaccine among people who are susceptible to the disease. Nevertheless, it is uncertain whether low levels of protection from COVID19 in people with weak immune systems can be improved via an extra dose of the shot. Dr. Sara Oliver has said that nearly 33 to 50 percent of people have responded well to an additional dose of the vaccine among people with weak immune systems who have not been able to develop enough antibody response even after being fully vaccinated. Dr. Sara Oliver is an epidemiologist at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These people have been able to develop sufficient antibodies against COVID19.
Dr. Camille Kotton has said that such patients very well know their risk of catching the virus. Dr. Kotton is an infectious disease expert in solid organ transplantation at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. They have been considering whether to take a booster shot or not. Dr. Camille Kotton has said that many patients who are dealing with weakened immune systems are taking the matter into their hands and going ahead with an extra dose of COVID19 shot, whatever they find apt. Experts are worried that these people are taking an extra dose of the shot in an unofficial way as officials have not cleared the shots yet. At present, all COVID19 shots in the US that are being given to people have been authorized for emergency use by the US Food and Administration (FDA). The FDA has reported that these shots should be used as prescribed; it means that health care providers are not allowed to decide which of their patients might require an extra dose of the shot. Health experts have said doctors can advise a shot off the label if it is authorized by the FDA. As per the latest report, Pfizer- BioNTech and Moderna have filed an application for full authorization. However, the FDA has not granted full approval to either of them. Experts from the CDC have said that they are trying to work around the emergency use authorization (EMU) and are trying to offer extra shots to patients who have weakened immune systems. The chief medical officer from the CDC, Dr. Amanda Cohn has said that officials are trying to offer access to extra doses before any decision is taken by the drug regulators. Dr. Doran Fink has said that officials are trying to explore all choices to offer access to extra doses of any approved shots in a situation where data shows that the benefits of an extra shot prevail over the risks. Dr. Doran Fink is the deputy director-clinical of the division of vaccines and related products and applications of the FDA.
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