CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens announced they have begun offering the third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to certain immunocompromised people.
Both companies made the announcement on their respective websites.
On Friday, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel voted unanimously to recommend the additional dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for moderately or severely immunocompromised people as the delta variant drives up infection rates nationwide. The recommendation targeted people who have received transplants or have cancer.
The doses are not being offered to the general public.
“Walgreens is committed to administering COVID-19 vaccines to our most vulnerable populations as quickly and safely as possible,” Kevin Ban, the company’s chief medical officer, said in a news release. “As one of the first companies to begin providing these vaccines, we have an experienced team of pharmacists and technicians, as well as the infrastructure to support the increased demand for these vaccines.”
At Walgreens, patients must be 18 or older to receive the Moderna vaccine, or 12 and older to receive the Pfizer vaccine, according to the company’s news release.
>> Coronavirus: CDC committee recommends additional vaccine dose for immunocompromised people
CVS noted on its website that “select immunocompromised individuals are eligible for a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.” The company provided a link for prospective patients to schedule an appointment.
A spokesperson for the company said those who want the booster shot must confirm that they are immuno-compromised during the scheduling process and when they arrive to receive the third dose.
Immunocompromised people are more likely to become severely ill from COVID-19 and to transmit the virus to other people, according to officials. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the CDC, said Friday that the immunocompromised population in the U.S. is estimated to be “very small” -- less than 3% of American adults.
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