What you need to know

Who should get a 3^rd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine?
At this time, a 3rd dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is being recommended for moderately to severely immunocompromised people who have already received two doses of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). This includes people who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress the immune response

If you are unsure of your status, consult with a healthcare professional. There is currently no recommendation for people who are not immunocompromised to received a third dose or a booster dose

Why get a 3^rd dose?
New data demonstrates that immunocompromised people who have low or no protection following two doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) may have an improved response after an additional dose of the same vaccine. The 3^rd dose is intended to improve their response to their initial vaccine series. This dose is not considered a booster, but rather a way to improve initial immune response to the level of the non-immunocompromised.

Which vaccine should I get?
If you fit the criteria, you should get the same mRNA vaccine you received in your initial two-dose vaccine — either Pfizer or Moderna. 

When should I get my 3^rd dose?
A 3rd dose should be given at least 28 days after the 2^nd mRNA dose was administered.

How and where do I get my 3^rd dose?
You can get your 3^rd dose anywhere COVID-19 vaccines are being offered.
Bring your vaccine card with you to the vaccine clinic/site. If you do not have your vaccine card, you can request one from your previous vaccinator or request your vaccination record through izrecord.nv.gov to bring with you.
Upon arrival, your vaccinator may require you to complete a form self-verifying your immunocompromised condition.

What if I got the J&J/Janssen vaccine?
At this time, there is not enough data to determine whether immunocompromised people who received the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine will have a similarly improved antibody response following an additional dose of the J&J vaccine. This is currently being studied.

How will I react to a 3^rd dose?
So far, reactions reported after a 3^rd mRNA dose were like that of the two-dose series: fatigue and pain at injection site were most common and most symptoms were mild to moderate.

Vaccine recommendation as of August 18, 2021