The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new guideline on the COVID-19 vaccine, which indicates that those with pre-existing medical conditions should receive the vaccine.
“Adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for serious virus disease that causes COVID-19,” wrote the CDC in updated guidance on December 26, adding that “COVID-19 mRNA vaccines can be administered to people with underlying medical conditions, provided they have not had a severe allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. “
The two different vaccines currently being administered to Americans use mRNA technology, which instructs the body to create antibodies to fight the virus, instead of using a weakened version of the virus. The two vaccines include one developed by Pfizer and the German biotechnology company BioNTech and the other developed by Moderna.
The update to the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine provides guidance for people with a number of different pre-existing medical conditions, including weakened immune systems, autoimmune diseases, Guillain-Barré syndrome and Bell’s palsy.
As the CDC notes, people with HIV and a weakened immune system “due to other illnesses or medications may be at increased risk for severe COVID-19.” The CDC says that these people should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, but notes that “information on the safety of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines” for this group is not yet available.
Scott Olson / Getty
“People living with HIV have been included in clinical trials, although safety data specific to this group is not yet available at this time,” said the CDC.
The CDC provides similar guidance for those with autoimmune diseases, stating that this group should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, but adds that “they should be aware that there is currently no data available on the safety of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines for them . “
According to the CDC, to date, there have been no reported cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome after a person received a COVID-19 vaccine during clinical trials and people who previously had GBS should receive the vaccine.
On December 17, the Food and Drug Administration reported cases of Bell’s palsy in people who received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines during clinical trials. Bell’s palsy is a temporary facial palsy, but in the updated CDC guidelines, it states that the FDA “does not consider them [cases] above the expected rate in the general population. “
“They did not conclude that these cases were caused by vaccination. Therefore, people who have already had Bell’s palsy can receive a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine,” said the CDC.
The updated CDC guidance also states that, even after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, people should continue to follow the current guidance to fight the virus. Current guidelines include wearing a face mask in public, measures of social distance, hand washing and quarantine guidance after exposure to the virus.
The updated guidance comes according to the CDC and many other health officials say that those with pre-existing medical conditions are at a high risk of developing serious cases of the new virus.
Newsweek contacted CDC for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.