This story was updated at 10:20 a.m. on Aug. 17, 2021, to include national news about potential booster shots and a response from a county spokeswoman.
Montgomery County health officials said Monday they’re still reviewing which county residents might be eligible for a booster shot of a coronavirus vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended last week that people who are immunocompromised should be able to receive a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. That accounts for about 2.7% of adults nationwide, or roughly 7 million people, the CDC estimated.
However, on Monday night, citing administration officials, The New York Times reported that the Biden administration has decided that most Americans should get a coronavirus booster vaccination eight months after getting a second shot.
Mary Anderson, a spokeswoman for the county’s Department of Health and Human Services, wrote in a text message on Tuesday that county officials are waiting on guidance from the Maryland Department of Health about that news.
James Bridgers, the county’s deputy health officer, told reporters on Monday that one of the challenges will be verifying that a person is immunocompromised, if they seek a third dose at a county-run site.
Officials are waiting for more guidance from the Maryland Department of Health to see how those cases should be handled. For now, officials will “assess on the spot” and follow up with residents’ health care providers to see if they are eligible for a shot, he said.
“The current plan is, not to turn anyone away, but [to] determine the seriousness of their illness, and if they are a candidate for the booster,” Bridgers said.
So far, the CDC has recommended boosters shots for people who have:
- Been getting treatment for cancer, whether via tumors or in the blood
- Received an organ transplant or who are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem-cell transplant within the last two years
- A moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
- Advanced or untreated HIV infections
- Been getting treatment for high-dose corticosteroids
Bridgers said he hopes residents will allow him and colleagues to review the latest CDC guidance to help better determine which residents should receive a booster shot.
More than 1 million people had already received a third dose before it was authorized by the CDC, according to an ABC News report.
State and local databases should help determine which residents have received a first or second dose of the vaccine, to prevent people from illegitimately getting a third dose, Bridgers said.
Steve Bohnel can be reached at steve.bohnel@moco360.media
