Third COVID Vaccine Shot For Immunocompromised Individuals?

A third dosage of Covid vaccination to further boost immunity against Covid-19 among the extremely vulnerable population in Telangana and across the country could be available shortly.
The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) recently approved the use of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid vaccines as a second dose on immunocompromised persons.

“Three dosages are currently not advised in many places. However, it should be taken into account. Different vaccines must be tested in groups of patients to determine which vaccine (or combinations of vaccines) will provide the greatest benefit to these vulnerable populations. However, no boosters at this time,” said Dr Gagandeep Kang, a renowned virologist and member of the Covid Working Group, MOHFW, New Delhi, on Tuesday.

Dr Kang explained " The well-known virologist resorted to Twitter to elaborate on the problem of Covid booster shots. While stating that there was no India-specific evidence on the requirement for booster dosages, Dr Kang stated that a third Covid shot should be explored for vulnerable individuals. “Who requires a booster dose and when? We don't know for sure right now. “The FDA suggestion is not so much for boosters as it is awareness that persons with inadequate immune responses should have a third dose as part of their original round of immunizations".

Solid organ transplant recipients, those receiving active treatment for solid tumours and hematologic malignancies, those receiving CAR T cell therapy or within two years of stem cell transplant, patients with moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge, Wiskott-Aldrich syndromes), advanced or untreated HIV infection or active treatment, with high-dosage.

Dr. Kang also noted the need for India-specific data, indicating the necessity to roll out booster dosages. “Yes, certain countries that have utilised inactivated, vectored, or mRNA vaccines have begun to provide supplemental doses to specific populations, such as the elderly. “We do not have any data in India (or elsewhere) that anyone who has taken two doses of vaccine requires booster vaccines at this time,” Dr Kang said.

“It may seem obvious that more antibodies are better, but we don't know whether those who increase their antibody levels with extra dosages will be better protected than they were before. Or that when antibodies weaken, we need to boost to stay above a certain level,” Dr Kang added.