VACCINATION. 11 NEWS REPORTER LISA ROBINSON TALKED WITH ONE OF THE CO-AUTHORS OF A RECENT STUDY THAT LOOKED INTO THIS. >> I’M REALLY HOPING I HAVE T CELLS. THAT IS THE ONLY HOPE I HAVE. >> THIS 41-YEAR-OLD HAD A HEART AND DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT IN 2008. IN 2017, HER MOM GAVE HER A KIDNEY. SHE TAKES 25 PILLS A DAY. THAT INCLUDES ANTIREJECTION MEDS. SHE HAS HAD TWO DOSES OF A COVID 19 VACCINE BUT SO FAR HAS NOT DEVELOPED ANTIBODIES >> THE TRANSPLANT TEAM IS TELLING ME IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL. >> SHE IS PART OF A STUDY AT JOHNS HOPKINS. >> WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING SINCE DECEMBER THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO VACCINATION IN IMMUNO SUPPRESSED PEOPLE AND ALSO IN PARTICULAR TRANSPLANT PATIENTS. >> THEY LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE VACCINE. >> ABOUT 50% OF TRANSPLANT PATIENTS AFTER TWO DOSES OF THE EMMETT NRA VACCINES -- OF THE MRNA VACCINES HAVE NO DETECTABLE ANTIBODIES. THAT SCARES US AND THE PATIENTS BECAUSE THIS PROBABLY MEANS THEY HAVE MUCH LESS PROTECTION FROM COVID THEN PEOPLE WITH NORMAL IMMUNE SYSTEMS. >> PEOPLE WITH NORMAL IMMUNE SYSTEMS SHOW VERY HIGH RESPONSES TO THE VACCINE. >> THEY SHOULD GET VACCINATED BUT PRETEND LIKE THEY ARE NOT VACCINATED IN TERMS OF THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE. >> SHE IS DOING JUST THAT. >> I’VE NOT BEEN TO ANY GROCERY STORES OR RESTAURANTS. NOTHING INDOORS. I MEET FAMILY AND FRIENDS VACCINATED OUTSIDE. >> SHE’S GONE BACK TO WORK AS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST BUT REQUIRES PATIENTS TO WEAR MASKS. >> EYEWEAR DOUBLE MASK MY , PATIENTS KNOW HISTORY MY EMPLOYER KNOWS MY HISTORY. >> WHILE VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE GOING WITHOUT THEIR MASKS, DESAI WANTS TO REMIND THEM THAT WEARING MASKS PROTECTS PEOPLE LIKE HER. >> I REALLY REQUEST EVERYBODY JUST PLEASE WEAR A MASK ESPECIALLY WHEN INSIDE AND IN RESTRAUNAT
CDC warns COVID-19 vaccines might not protect people who are immunocompromised
Updated: 11:07 PM EDT Jul 16, 2021
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday warned people who are immunocompromised that the COVID-19 vaccine may not have been effective for them and encouraged them to take precautions as if they were not vaccinated."People who are immunocompromised should be counseled about the potential for reduced immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines and to follow current prevention measures (including wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others staying they don't live with, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces) to protect themselves against COVID-19 until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider," according to the CDC's website.The CDC did not go so far as to tell the millions of immunocompromised people in the U.S. to get an additional shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, noting that "the safety, efficacy and benefit of additional doses for COVID-19 vaccines in immunocompromised persons continues to be evaluated."A federal official told CNN that "CDC is looking into ongoing research exploring the possibility that immunocompromised could benefit from an additional dose."Some immunocompromised people have, on their own, received additional doses of the vaccine, and a study last month by Johns Hopkins researchers suggested that an extra shot may help increase COVID-19 antibody levels for some organ transplant recipients who did not have a full response to their original vaccinations.On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, acknowledged the reality that some people are acting ahead of official recommendations, noting that there are individual physicians "right now that are saying, 'I want to go the extra mile with someone who might have a lower level of immunity.'"On Friday, the CDC said data suggest the response to the vaccines might be reduced for several groups, including organ transplant recipients, people who are receiving chemotherapy for cancer, people who have certain blood cancers, and people receiving dialysis or taking certain medications that suppress the immune system.The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to discuss additional doses for immunocompromised individuals during its meeting on July 22.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday warned people who are immunocompromised that the COVID-19 vaccine may not have been effective for them and encouraged them to take precautions as if they were not vaccinated.
"People who are immunocompromised should be counseled about the potential for reduced immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines and to follow current prevention measures (including wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others staying they don't live with, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces) to protect themselves against COVID-19 until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider," according to the CDC's website.
The CDC did not go so far as to tell the millions of immunocompromised people in the U.S. to get an additional shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, noting that "the safety, efficacy and benefit of additional doses for COVID-19 vaccines in immunocompromised persons continues to be evaluated."
A federal official told CNN that "CDC is looking into ongoing research exploring the possibility that immunocompromised could benefit from an additional dose."
Some immunocompromised people have, on their own, received additional doses of the vaccine, and a study last month by Johns Hopkins researchers suggested that an extra shot may help increase COVID-19 antibody levels for some organ transplant recipients who did not have a full response to their original vaccinations.
On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, acknowledged the reality that some people are acting ahead of official recommendations, noting that there are individual physicians "right now that are saying, 'I want to go the extra mile with someone who might have a lower level of immunity.'"
On Friday, the CDC said data suggest the response to the vaccines might be reduced for several groups, including organ transplant recipients, people who are receiving chemotherapy for cancer, people who have certain blood cancers, and people receiving dialysis or taking certain medications that suppress the immune system.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to discuss additional doses for immunocompromised individuals during its meeting on July 22.
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