Third Dose vs. Booster? What is the difference?

Third Dose

This is recommended to those who are moderate to severely immunocompromised. These individuals may not have mounted enough of a response after the first 2 doses and a 3rd dose is recommended. This is eligible for Pfizer and Moderna patients. You can receive this 3rd dose 1 month after the completion of the 2 dose series. People who are eligible for the 3rd dose are:

• Active tumor treatment

• Solid organ transplant or taking immunosuppressant therapy

• Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant

• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency

• Advanced or untreated HIV

• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (≥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

• Other

Booster Dose

A booster dose is now eligible for patients who have completed both Pfizer vaccines 6 months ago. People who are eligible for this booster dose are:

• 65 years or older

• Moderately to severely immunocompromised

• Working in high risk professions (Healthcare workers, teachers, retail and restaurant work, first responders and public transportation

• Long term care residents and workers

• Homeless or living close quarters such as a dormitory

• A medical condition that puts you at high risks for having a severe reaction if they were to get COVID (diabetes, heart disease, asthma, obesity and high blood pressure)

**This does not apply to Moderna or J & J at this time**

If you have further questions

please call 704-910-4288 Option #6