(KNSI) – The Minnesota Department of Health says it will get an additional vaccine dose to some of the most vulnerable people if they received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
MDH gave an update on Friday afternoon after the Food and Drug Administration and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention authorization the third dose to immunocompromised people and those who’ve had an organ transplant.
Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm talked about why there’s a new recommendation.
“The data has really become much more clear in recent weeks and months that people who have a compromised immune system may not develop a good immune response to the first two doses of COVID-19 vaccine so that a third dose may help improve their protection.”
She says there have been too many heartbreaking stories of people with compromised immune systems who did absolutely everything they could do and still succumbed to COVID-19.
Malcolm says the state is waiting on final guidance from federal agencies.
“We’re waiting for additional clinical guidance from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, including specific information on what qualifies as a subset of immuno-compromising conditions for which the third dose is now authorized.”
Clinics can begin administering doses with those specific conditions as soon as the state gets that guidance.
MDH estimates 115,000 Minnesotans will be able to get a third dose.
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