Alerts:  Nov. 12, 2024: Pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak confirmed in Spokane County. SRHD urges parents and pregnant people to vaccinate. Read the press release.

COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory for Healthcare Providers

Update on Booster Doses for COVID-19 Vaccine

Posted Sept. 10, 2021. Past health advisories and alerts are archived for historical purposes and are not maintained or updated.

After the announcement of a possible COVID-19 booster dose, there have been a lot of requests from the public about when they can get one. As of now, there is no authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) or the Western States Review group for boosters.

To clarify, there is a recommendation for those who are immunocompromised to receive a third dose of either Pfizer or Moderna. The third dose is not considered a booster dose but is an additional dose for those who did not develop adequate immunity with the two-dose series.

Only patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should receive an additional dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.

Please do not administer any doses of vaccine beyond what is currently recommended by the ACIP, even if your patient requests it. Administering “booster” doses puts providers in violation of the WA Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 Vaccine Provider agreement.

Immunocompromised Criteria*
  • Are 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 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
  • Have advanced or untreated HIV infection
  • Are receiving active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress the immune response.

*From Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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