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With high transmission levels, Alexandria says third COVID vaccine dose is available for severely immunocompromised residents

By James Cullum

Alexandria’s COVID transmission levels have been upped from “substantial” to “high”, and the city’s Health Department is recommending that severely immunocompromised residents get a third vaccine shot.

Alexandria now has 12,490 cases of COVID-19 reported since the first case in March 2020. That’s an increase of 40 reported cases since Monday.

“The CDC now recommends a third dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals,” the Alexandria Health Department said in a release. “The decision follows emergency use authorization by the FDA and a unanimous recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.”

AHD also said that a third dose is not recommended for the general public.

According to AHD:

Individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised include those who have been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood, received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system, received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system, moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome), advanced or untreated HIV infection, or active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response.

VDH says unvaccinated Virginians make up most new cases. Find more about vaccine providers here.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.