New information has been released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about those with compromised immune systems receiving a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is recommending individuals who have moderate to severe compromised immune systems get a third dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Wolf notes the individuals that would qualify include those who are receiving active cancer treatments, an organ transplant recipient or are taking medications that suppress the immune system, a stem cell transplant recipient within the last two years, have a moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency, advanced or untreated HIV infection, or receiving high doses of corticosteroid or another drug that may suppress the immune system.

The CDC says the third dose can offer additional coverage against COVID-19 and the Delta variant. On a grander scale, Wolf urges everyone else who is eligible to get vaccinated.

“The way that we stop this pandemic is we got to get more people vaccinated because that’s what stops the virus from mutating once again. Each time it mutates it could mean that we may not have a vaccine that will be as effective, and that can be very, very dangerous. So how do we stop that mutation? We vaccinate.”

Wolf notes the third dose of the vaccine, as well as the first and second doses for those who are not fully vaccinated, are available at Jefferson Hy-Vee and Medicap Pharmacy, as well as Greene County Public Health, Greene County Family Medicine Clinic and McFarland Clinic in Jefferson.