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In reply to the discussion: NYC Teachers Union Fights For Medical And Religious Exemptions To COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate [View all]hlthe2b
(102,188 posts)The currently FDA-approved or FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are not live vaccines and therefore can be safely administered to immunocompromised people. Studies have found evidence of reduced immune response to a 2-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series in some groups of immunocompromised people
The vaccine may not produce the immune response desired but it is not going to cause them to become infected NOR have the data shown that immunocompromised are likely to have more reactions. Since a less robust immune response is stimulated in such persons, it is actually the opposite.
Many physicians, especially primary care treating the immunocompromised BELIEVE this to be a contraindication, but actually, it is not. Obviously, they have the latitude to make a judgment call, but it is a misunderstanding of the immune response and of these vaccines. And if the patient is feeling sick for other reasons at the time the vaccine is first considered, it is natural to delay the vaccine, but NOT to declare it contraindicated for the future.
Still, a few of these individuals not receiving the vaccine (or at least not when initially offered) is a risk to them, but one would presume they would take sufficient additional precautions to avoid infection and spread.