Orange County

Immunocompromised start receiving fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses in Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. — People whose health makes them most vulnerable to COVID-19 are now getting a fourth vaccine dose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending additional doses for the immunocompromised, and that option is now rolling out in Central Florida.

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Liver transplant recipient Brenda Straub received her fourth shot last Friday at an Orlando Publix. She said she’s determined to be as armed as she can be against COVID-19.

“I mean we’re in a fight that we’ve never been in before. This is uncharted waters,” Straub said.

READ: 2 local cities still show high concentrations of COVID-19 in wastewater

Twelve years after a lifesaving liver transplant, the threat of COVID-19 is a constant concern for the longtime real estate agent.

“I assume after five months with my liver transplant and my immune suppressants I’m probably low on antibodies,” Straub said.

READ: Coronavirus: CDC updates mask recommendations

So the 71-year-old didn’t hesitate to get a fourth dose of the Pfizer vaccine as soon as she heard she could.

The CDC’s latest guidance directs people with a weakened immune system to get an additional primary shot once they complete the initial two Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, and five months after that, a fourth shot, considered as the actual booster, is now recommended.

READ: Coronavirus: Total US COVID-19 cases top 65M; Florida becomes 3rd state to top 5M infections

Hospital data continues to show that the highest proportion of breakthrough cases — and often, intensive care unit stays — are transplant recipients.

Anyone considering this fourth dose is advised to talk to their health care provider to discuss what’s best for them.

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Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.