MU Health Care prepares to give third doses of coronavirus vaccines
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
MU Health Care is now providing people with weakened immune systems a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
The health care provider said anyone who might qualify for another shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines may get one at any of its clinics.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel recommended providers begin giving a third dose of vaccines using mRNA to people with weakened immune systems. The agency said those dealing with cancer, HIV, organ transplants and other conditions had less protection from the two doses of the vaccines than those without such conditions, and that a third dose would help boost the protection against COVID-19.
Dr. Laura Morris, the co-chair of MU Health Care's vaccine committee, said she welcomed the CDC's approval of a third dose. Immunocompromised people make up 40% of the country's breakthrough COVID-19 infections that end up in the hospital. Morris said MU Health Care would offer a third dose of a vaccine at least 28 days after the person had received their second shot. Morris said it would work closely with the patients who MU Health Care's doctors know are dealing with those conditions on scheduling a third dose.
"They tend to have quite a bit of contact with the health care system, so we are definitely planning on identifying those patients and recommend and give them their booster dose," Morris said.
Forty-eight percent of Boone County has been fully vaccinated. It's not clear how many people in the state may qualify as immunocompromised, but the CDC reports that 7 million adults have a weakened immune system. So far, 1.1 million people have gotten a third coronavirus vaccine dose.
The approval of a third dose comes as a relief for some cancer survivors. Lyrissa Lidsky, dean of the MU School of Law, finished her treatment for breast cancer just a month before the pandemic gripped the U.S. She said the fear of catching any sort of disease while undergoing treatment for it can serve as a setback, and make the person sicker than it normally might.
"There are people right now facing that situation, knowing their immune systems are not working properly, and simple diseases that would not affect the rest of us can really cause permanent impairment or death for them," Lidsky said.
The strain the growing number of infections puts on the health care system can also affect the treatment schedule for those dealing with cancer, Lidsky said. The state reported 2,318 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 on Friday, with 689 in the intensive care unit. Lidsky said a constant schedule of treatment helped keep her positive during chemotherapy, and interruptions to it could cause others problems.
