North Carolinians who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines can now begin receiving an additional dose to better protect themselves from COVID-19, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services urges an additional dose for people who:
- Are receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
Individuals must attest they qualify for the additional dose by having a condition or taking a medication that causes them to be moderately to severely immunocompromised.
Buncombe County Health and Human Services will administer these doses at their walk-in clinic at 40 Coxe Ave. and at mobile outreach events. Additional doses can be secured at any vaccine provider, and individuals do not need to go back to where they got their original doses.
This recommendation does not include individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson immunization at this time.