Campus & Community

COVID-19 Public Health Update: CDC Recommends Additional Vaccine Dose for Immunocompromised

Tuesday, August 17, 2021, By News Staff

Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance yesterday that will impact members of our community. The CDC is now encouraging individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised to receive an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Who is eligible?

Eligible individuals include those who:

  • Are receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
  • Have received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Have received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Have a moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
  • Have advanced or untreated HIV infection
  • Are receiving active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Please note, this guidance is only applicable to individuals who have received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are not yet eligible.

Faculty/Staff Guidance

Faculty and staff who fit the above criteria should contact their primary care physician directly to discuss receiving an additional dose. Vaccines remain readily available in the community. To learn where you can receive an additional dose, visit vaccines.gov and click “Find COVID-19 Vaccines.”

Student Guidance

For eligible students, please contact your primary care physician, who will determine whether you qualify for an additional dose. If you require an additional dose and need assistance, the Barnes Center will work with you to coordinate your additional dose administration.

As we have since the start of the pandemic, we will continue to update our community on important public health developments to ensure you have the information and tools necessary to keep yourself and those around you healthy and safe.

Please continue to visit Syracuse.edu/staysafe for the latest public health guidance.

Regards,
Syracuse University Public Health Team