United States Allows Third COVID Vaccine Dose for Immunocompromised Individuals

The United States on Thursday authorized an additional dose of the COVID vaccine for individuals with weakened immune systems, amid efforts to curb the spread of the Delta variant. Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock stated in a press release that "the country has entered another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the FDA recognizes that individuals who are immunocompromised are particularly at risk for severe illness." The statement clarified that the third dose is intended for those who have undergone solid organ transplants or who are immunocompromised. Woodcock added that "others who have completed their vaccination regimen have the necessary immunity and do not currently need an additional COVID vaccine dose." U.S. health officials discussed the necessity of a third dose following a similar move by Israel. More than 619,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19, while infection rates have sharply increased in recent months due to the Delta variant's spread. The pace of vaccination, which was previously rapid in the country, has slowed, particularly in politically conservative regions of the South and Midwest, as well as among young people and those with low incomes and racial minorities.