Rockland County Health Department offers third COVID-19 vaccine doses to immunocompromised population

Third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are officially being administered in Rockland County.

News 12 Staff

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Aug 19, 2021, 10:15 PM

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Updated 1,224 days ago

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Third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are officially being administered in Rockland County.

The Rockland County Health Department has offered first or second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to all residents. Now, the health department is offering the third dose to anyone with a compromised immune system at least 28 days after their second dose.

This follows recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration that were announced last week.
COVID RESOURCES: COVID-19 vaccine resources and case data
Vaccine Resources: Guide to vaccine resources

Esther and Herbert Spiegal, of Nanuet, came for their third doses.

"We've lived through polio and all that other stuff, and all those diseases are horrible. I would rather get the shot,” Esther says. “We're really not young, and we felt fine and I'm perfectly comfortable."

The couple says they didn't want to risk waiting, especially since Herbert is on dialysis.

"I think it’s important because you can always use a boost,” Herbert says. “Put it this way— it can only help."

Those eligible to receive third doses should get the same vaccine they initially received. Next month, third doses will be available to the public.

Rockland County Health Commissioner Patricia Schnabel Ruppert says the county plans on the initial rollout of third doses to be offered to specific populations, similar to the initial vaccine rollout in January.

The county has administered over 50,000 doses. Rockland officials report nearly 70% of people ages 12 and over have received their first dose of the vaccine.

MORE: Check COVID transmission levels in your county and CDC mask updates

Rockland County Health Commissioner Patricia Schnabel Ruppert says the county is providing third doses for those moderately to severely immunocompromised now as per the CDC list below and plans that the rollout of third doses will be offered to specific populations, similar to the initial vaccine rollout in January.

Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have:

Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
Advanced or untreated HIV infection
Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.

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