The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new guideline on Saturday stating that people with underlying health problems may receive a coronavirus vaccine.
The orientation explains that “adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of serious illnesses caused by the virus that causes COVID-19. ”
Thus, the CDC added that vaccines that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “it can be given to people with underlying medical conditions, as long as they have not had a severe allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. ”
The CDC explained that people with weakened immune systems due to other illnesses or medications may also receive a COVID-19 vaccine, but they should be aware that limited safety data is available on the effects of vaccines on these individuals.
In addition, although people living with HIV have been included in clinical trials, safety data for this group is also unavailable.
The CDC also stated in its guidance on Saturday that individuals with autoimmune diseases can get the vaccine, although data are currently not available on the safety of the vaccine in this demographic group.
Those who have experienced Guillain-Barre syndrome – a condition in which the body begins to attack parts of its own nervous system – may also receive doses of the vaccine. The guidance adds that after vaccination during clinical trials, there were no cases of the syndrome.
People who have already suffered from Bell’s palsy – a condition that causes muscle weakness on one side of the face – may also receive the vaccine. Some participants during clinical trials developed Bell’s palsy after vaccination, but it did not occur at a rate higher than expected in the general population.
Despite the start of distribution of the Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the CDC recommends that vaccinated people continue to follow current coronavirus health and safety protocols, such as mask use, social distance and crowd avoidance.
According to the CDC, almost 2 million people received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine on Saturday. Both the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech and that of Moderna require two doses with an interval of several weeks.
Data from the final trial on both vaccines showed that they had an approximately 95 percent efficacy rate in preventing COVID-19, although Moderna’s vaccine has an efficacy rate of 86% for people over 65.
Health professionals were prioritized in the initial distribution of the vaccine, and the CDC Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP) voted last week advise the CDC to include those aged 75 and over and specific essential frontline workers, including emergency professionals and teachers, in the next phase of coronavirus vaccinations.