During a White House COVID Response Team Briefing on Feb. 10, Fauci discussed how some states are moving into the third phase of vaccinations, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says should include people under the age of 65 with underlying conditions. In an effort to further clarify who should get vaccinated during this phase, the White House adviser said that people who are immunosuppressed are able to get the vaccine, despite any concerns. He specifically referenced those who may be taking immunosuppressive drugs like glucocorticoids or corticosteroids for autoinflammatory diseases or allergic conditions. “There has been a number of individuals who feel that they should not get vaccinated because of those underlying conditions,” Fauci said. “There is no safety reason not to get vaccinated.” According to Fauci, the only safety concerns for immunosuppressed people in terms of vaccination come from live vaccines, which use a weakened form of a virus to create an immune response. However, neither the Moderna or Pfizer COVID vaccine is a live vaccine. And for more coronavirus news, If You’re Over 65, You Could Be Missing This COVID Symptom, Study Says. Fauci further explained why vaccinating immunosuppressed people is extremely important. The CDC says that those who have an immunocompromised state could be at an increased risk for severe illness from the coronavirus. “I want to set the record straight for these individuals, because they are more vulnerable to more severe effects if they do get infected,” Fauci explained. “Therefore, they are the very people who should get vaccinated.” And for more on your coronavirus risks, If You’ve Done This, You’re Twice as Likely to Develop Severe COVID. It’s worth noting that the vaccine may not work as well in those who are immunosuppressed. According to Fauci, “the only potential downside might be that you might not have as robust a response to the vaccine,” compared to someone who has a normal immune response. So while both Moderna and Pfizer are nearly 95 percent effective in preventing COVID, someone who is immunocompromised may not reach that efficacy. “But clearly, getting a less-than-optimal response is much better than no response at all,” Fauci explained. And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. According to the CDC, there are three reasons for someone not to get the COVID vaccine because it could harm them, otherwise known as a contraindication. If someone has a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine, has an immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a previous dose, or has an immediate allergic reaction of any severity to polysorbate, they should not receive the COVID vaccine (or a second dose of the vaccine if they’ve already gotten the first). An immunosuppressive state is not directly considered a contraindication to the COVID vaccine. The CDC says that the only reason you should not get the vaccine with this condition is if you are immunosuppressed and have one of the previously listed contraindications. And for more on the future of the pandemic, The Johnson & Johnson CEO Just Made This Unsettling Prediction About COVID.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
