August 27, 2021 | Jennifer Walker - UConn Health

3rd Vaccine Dose for Immunocompromised Individuals

Certain immunocompromised individuals are now eligible to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

A person in blue medical gloves using a syringe to draw COVID-19 vaccine from a vial.

The bivalent COVID-19 booster is recommended for everyone 12 and over who are at least two months from either their primary vaccination series or their most recent booster. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

Certain immunocompromised individuals are now eligible to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.  At this time, this recommendation applies only to individuals who received the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines, not to those who received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends 3rd mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose for patients with the following conditions:

  • Active or recent treatment for cancer
  • Previous stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy
  • Previous solid organ transplant (such as a kidney or liver transplant)
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection
  • Active treatment with immune-suppressing medications, including high-dose corticosteroids, chemotherapy, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, and other biologic agents that suppress or modulate the immune system

See the complete list of conditions approved by the CDC and the frequently asked questions about the additional authorized dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Having a compromised immune system puts you at higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. Studies show that the initial 2-dose mRNA vaccine regimens are generally less effective for people with weakened immune systems, as compared to people without serious immune deficiencies.

People with conditions that weaken the immune system are also far more likely to have a breakthrough infection that results in hospitalization than people in more normal health. One U.S. study shows 40% to 44% of hospitalized breakthrough cases are in immunocompromised people.

You should talk to your health care provider to see if the third-dose recommendation applies to you.

The 3rd dose should be the same brand (Pfizer/Moderna) as the first two doses and should take place at least 28 days after the 2nd dose.  However, if for some reason, the mRNA vaccine you received for the first two doses is not available, it is acceptable to receive your third dose with the other product.

At this time there is no recommendation for individuals who received a Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine to receive an additional dose or a dose of an mRNA vaccine. Guidance for those who received the J&J/Janssen vaccine is expected in the upcoming weeks.

Patients are required to sign an attestation to receive the third dose.  Online scheduling is available via MyChart.  Please note, we will not take walk-ins for 3rd doses.

The CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population at this time.

You can find more information on our website.