JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas  –   The CDC is recommending that people whose immune systems are moderately to severely immunocompromised, receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. People who have weakened immune systems are more at risk of serious, prolonged illness. CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population at this time.
 
Starting Aug. 23, the San Antonio Market will begin offering an additional dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised beneficiaries and immunocompromised staff members based on the following criteria:
 
•         Been receiving active cancer treatment for solid 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 your immune response
 
For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html
 
If you have additional questions or feel you meet the criteria, but your condition is not listed, please contact your provider team.
 
TO RECEIVE THE ADDITIONAL DOSE:
 
Beneficiaries can make a same-day appointment on TRICARE Online or by calling our appointment line (210-916-9900). Or, you can stop by without an appointment during our weekly walk-in hours: Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at BAMC's COVID-19 vaccination site located in the Training Support Center on main post Fort Sam Houston, building 4110, 2536 Garden Avenue. At this time, additional doses will ONLY be administered at the Training Support Center on Fort Sam Houston.
 
Staff members who are immunocompromised but are not beneficiaries are welcome to stop by during the designated walk-in hours.
 
As a reminder, widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic. If you haven’t received your COVID-19 vaccination yet, it’s not too late to vaccinate!

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