IPSWICH — Town Manager Anthony Marino and Director of Public Health Colleen Fermon are pleased to announce that town vaccination clinics have been authorized to offer a third dose of Pfizer vaccine to eligible individuals.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised are more likely to have serious disease with COVID-19 and are less likely to develop adequate immunity in response to the two-dose series of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
An additional dose is recommended for people who have received a primary series of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and who have moderate to severe immune compromisedue to a medical condition or receipt of immunosuppressive medications or treatments.
These conditions and treatments include but are not limited to:
- Active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
Eligible individuals interested in receiving a third dose are asked to speak to their medical provider before attending a clinic. Medical providers may have specific recommendations for their patients, such as stopping a medication before receiving the vaccine. Town clinic staff cannot offer individualized medical guidance.
It is recommended that such individuals receive an additional dose of the same vaccine given in their primary series. If not available, the other mRNA vaccine may be given. There is currently no CDC recommendation about the need for a second dose of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.
A third dose of vaccine differs from a booster shot. A third dose provides additional protection to those who had an insufficient immune response to the two-dose series because of a compromised immune system. Booster shots are provided to those who had a sufficient immune response, but which has waned over time. Booster doses are not currently available, and the Town is awaiting further guidance from federal authorities.
Vaccination clinics are open to anyone age 12 and older who lives, works, or studies in Massachusetts. Clinics are held on Mondays at Our Lady of Hope rectory, 1 Pine Swamp Road. Register here. Please choose the “second dose” option because the registration system has not been updated yet.
Clinics are scheduled on Mondays through the end of 2021, with the exception of Labor Day (Sept. 6) and Indigenous Peoples Day (Oct. 11).
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