COVID-19 delta strain and vaccine updates
Most of our members are now aware of the update to the vaccination series for those who are immunocompromised. These patients should receive a third dose of their mRNA vaccine to complete the three dose series if they received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination only. We do not have this recommendation for those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine yet, but a booster is expected to be recommended. We expect more information on this topic will be released from the CDC over the next few weeks.
If you are unsure whether the 3rd dose is relevant for you, please contact our team and we will be happy to inform you. The list of qualifying conditions can be found here. Scheduling a third dose mRNA vaccine can be done via Vaxfinder or through the MGB scheduling site. We’ve also had several of our members have a good experience doing this at Union Pharmacy (nearby our office in Newton). As a reminder, you do NOT need a doctor’s note for vaccination; you will self-attest to having an immunocompromising condition.
Many members are also aware of the news that the CDC will soon recommend boosters for those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. This is an extra dose of vaccine meant to boost a patient's immune system because of decreased immunity over time. The guidance will likely be that people should receive a booster 6-8 months after their initial 2-dose vaccination series was completed. However, boosters have not yet been formally recommended by the CDC or approved by the FDA. We will let you know how and when to get a booster when we learn more. The earliest we expect this to begin is ~September 20th.
For questions about the delta strain we recommend this very helpful FAQ review with Infectious Disease specialist Dr. Michael Klompas of Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
As always, we will do our best to keep you well informed and to advocate for our members. Remember the existing vaccines are safe and very effective; they dramatically reduce your risk for severe illness or death from COVID-19. The Pfizer vaccine is also now officially FDA approved for those 16 years and older. We encourage everyone to obtain these vaccines.
This article does not constitute the practice of medicine, healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always talk to your healthcare provider regarding your specific medical needs.