Just 25% of eligible patients say they received fifth COVID-19 vaccine dose
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Approximately 25% of immunocompromised patients have received a fifth vaccine dose, according to survey results released by the Global Healthy Living Foundation.
The poll, conducted by the Global Healthy Living Foundation’s COVID-19 Patient Support Program, recorded responses from 1,492 respondents. Among the respondents, 93% reported being immunocompromised and 96% reported receiving the initial two-dose course of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, according to a release.
Under guidance released by the CDC, patients who are aged 12 years or older and immunocompromised are . The dose should be administered no earlier than 4 months following the fourth dose, the guidance said.
Of those who responded to the survey, 78% reported receiving a fourth dose of the vaccine, while 25% reported receiving a fifth dose. Among patients who received the Johnson and Johnson single-dose vaccine as their first dose, 80% reported receiving a second dose, and two-thirds reported plans to receive additional doses.
Of the patients who reported receiving their fifth dose, 77% reported no difficulties in attaining the vaccine. The most common reason for not receiving a fifth dose, as reported by 31% of respondents, was that they had been waiting for a booster-specific version of the vaccine. Other reasons included being within the 4-month window before being eligible and advice from health care providers.
Additionally, “many” respondents were unaware a fifth dose is recommended for immunocompromised patients, according to the release.
“The recommendation for the fifth COVID-19 vaccine dose comes as COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations have been on the rise across the U.S.,” the release said. “This is largely due to the BA.4 and BA.5 variants, which now make up to 80 percent of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. With the spread of COVID-19 cases, it is as important as ever to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccine doses.”
References:
COVID-19 vaccines for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html. July 20, 2022. Accessed July 29, 2022.
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