Third COVID-19 vaccine dose recommended for immunocompromised individuals
Public Service Announcement
Third COVID-19 vaccine dose recommended for immunocompromised individuals
The Government of Nunavut’s Department of Health in response to recent guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations, is recommending that moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals receive a third dose of an authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer).
Third doses of the vaccine will be authorized by referral from a physician or nurse practitioner and will be given at least 28 days after receiving the second dose of an mRNA vaccine.
This recommendation applies to individuals who are 12 years of age and over who have one of the following conditions:
- Active treatment for solid tumour or hematologic malignancies.
- Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy.
- Receipt of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy).
- Moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
- Stage 3 or advanced untreated HIV infection and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
- Active treatment with the following categories of immunosuppressive therapies: anti-B cell therapies (monoclonal antibodies targeting CD19, CD20 and CD22), high-dose systemic corticosteroids (refer to the CIG for suggested definition of high dose steroids), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, or tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors and other biologic agents that are significantly immunosuppressive.
Speak with your health care provider if you are unsure if these medications or circumstances apply to you.
Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 is advised to call the COVID-hotline at 1-888-975-8601 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST to arrange testing or notify their community health centre right away. Please do not go to the health centre in person, and immediately isolate at home for 14 days.
Vaccine continues to be available across the territory. Call your health centre to make an appointment or walk into Iqaluit Public Health every weekday for Moderna (ages 18+) and Wednesday for Pfizer (ages 12 to 17). Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself, your family and your community.
For all the latest information on COVID-19 in Nunavut, go to: https://www.gov.nu.ca/
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Media Contact:
Danarae Sommerville
Communications Specialist
Department of Health
867-975-5712
@email