Immunocompromised Persons Have Protection Options

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed COVID-19 vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent SARS-CoV-2–associated serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

And everyone, including those who are immunocompromised and their household members and close contacts, should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination.

Although moderately to severely immunocompromised persons might not mount a strong vaccine-mediated immune response, staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations does provide some protection.

A recent CDC study of preliminary data showed that a bivalent booster dose provided additional protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection among immunocompetent persons who had previously received 2, 3, or 4 monovalent vaccine doses.

Among persons with immunocompromise and their household members and close contacts, prevention measures, including wearing a high-quality and well-fitting mask, maintaining physical distance from others, improving indoor ventilation, practicing frequent handwashing, and developing a care plan, should be considered in addition to receipt of a bivalent booster dose.

Furthermore, early outpatient treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 with a recommended first-line therapy, Paxlovid or Veklury, has been shown to reduce the risk for severe COVID-19.

These medications are expected to retain activity against the currently circulating Omicron sublineages.

Available COVID-19 treatment does not supplant the need for persons to stay current on their COVID-19 vaccinations, which are highly effective at preventing COVID-19–related morbidity and mortality, stated the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on January 27, 2023.