MONROE — On Thursday, Aug. 12, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration amended their emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for both the Pfizer and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of an additional dose in certain immunocompromised individuals. Beginning on Monday, Aug. 23 Green County Public Health will begin offering moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals an extra dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. 

This includes people who have: 

●  Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood. 

●  Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system. 

●  Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system. 

●  Moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome). 

●  Advanced or untreated HIV infection. 

●  Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, or other drugs that may suppress your immune response. 

Immunocompromised people have a weakened immune system and have a reduced ability to fight infections. In a press release from the U.S. FDA the organization stated that they “…evaluated information on the use of a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines in these individuals and determined that the administration of third vaccine doses may increase protection in this population.” This extra dose is only for immunocompromised individuals who received the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, not those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The extra dose of the mRNA vaccine should be given at least 28 days after the individual received their second dose. 

Green County Public Health is offering COVID-19 vaccine clinics on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout August and September. These are no-appointment, walk-in clinics, free and open to anyone 12 years of age and older. People do not need health insurance, an ID, or proof of residency to get the COVID-19 vaccine. At this time Green County Public Health is offering both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. People coming to GCPH for their second, or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine should bring their COVID-19 CDC vaccination card with them. 

Nurses at Green County Public Health are available to answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccines, and create a welcoming environment to get the vaccine. Anyone with questions about their status of being immunocompromised is encouraged to talk with their trusted doctor. 

To stay up to date on the rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic please monitor the Green County Public Health website and Facebook page.