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By Julie Steenhuysen
CHICAGO, July 22 (Reuters) – Advisors with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will examine evidence on Thursday that suggests that a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines could increase protection for people with weakened immune systems.
Data presented prior to the meeting noted that these individuals have a reduced antibody response after the recommended primary series compared to healthy individuals.
“Emerging data suggests that an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine in immunocompromised people improves the antibody response and increases the proportion of those who respond,” showed slides released ahead of the meeting.
The committee is not expected to vote on a recommendation whether or not to administer additional doses. This could be decided at a later meeting.
In small studies, the short-term side effects of a third dose of mRNA vaccines – such as those manufactured by BioNTech / Pfizer Inc or Moderna Inc – were about the same as those experienced with the first two doses, a said the CDC in its presentation.
An estimated 2.7% of American adults live with a weakened immune system, according to the CDC presentation, based on 2013 data. The group includes people living with HIV / AIDS, cancer and those who have suffered an organ transplant or autoimmune diseases that take drugs to lower their immune response.
These people are at increased risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19.
Last week, Israel began administering third doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine to immunocompromised people, including those who have had heart, lung, kidney or liver transplants and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
Some experts believe the CDC is approaching a similar recommendation in the United States.
The CDC has urged people with weakened immune systems to take precautions even if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The virus not only poses an additional risk to the health of these people, but because it takes them longer to clear the virus, scientists believe infections could lead to new variants as the pathogen continues to replicate. without control, which some studies have shown. (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Additional reporting by Michael Erman in New Jersey; Editing by Peter Henderson, Will Dunham and Dan Grebler)
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