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 Here's what we know about who will be eligible for the additional
shots:
HOW IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED DEFINED?
The Food and Drug Administration updated the emergency use
authorization given to the shots from Pfizer, developed with German
partner BioNTech, as well as the vaccine from Moderna to allow a
third dose for people who have received organ transplants, or those
with a similarly weakened immune system.
Health officials have estimated that less than 3% of American adults
would be candidates for a third dose.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a third
dose is recommended for people who are moderately or severely
immunocompromised. They included people who are receiving treatment
for solid tumor cancers and cancers of the blood, such as lymphoma
or leukemia; patients who have undergone within the last two years a
bone marrow transplant or are still taking drugs to suppress their
immune system; and patients with advanced or untreated HIV
infection.
The CDC guidance also includes people who are currently taking
high-dose steroids and immune system-suppressing biologic drugs,
including medicines for Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and
plaque psoriasis. DO I NEED A PRESCRIPTION? WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE?
The CDC said on Friday that people seeking a third vaccine dose will
not need a prescription or recommendation from a healthcare
provider. They would self-attest that they are eligible at a
vaccination site.
The vaccines themselves have been purchased by the federal
government and are being distributed free of charge, but hospitals,
pharmacies and other providers can bill insurers for administration
costs. People covered by Medicare, the government health plan for
people over the age of 65, who qualify for an additional vaccine
dose can receive it at no charge. Medicare will continue to pay
vaccine providers an average of $40 for each administration of a
COVID-19 vaccine.
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 America's Health Insurance
Plans, the trade group representing most private
health insurers, said health insurance providers
will continue to cover all administrative costs
for COVID-19 vaccines as required.
WHAT ARE OTHER COUNTRIES DOING?
A growing number of countries have begun to offer a third vaccine
dose to vulnerable populations based on evidence that vaccine
protection may wane over time or may not be robust enough against
the fast-spreading Delta variant.
Israel began offering a third shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to
people aged over 60 in July. On Friday, the country lowered that age
limit to 50 and said it will also offer an additional dose to health
workers.
Health clinics in Moscow started offering booster shots in July to
people who were vaccinated six or more months ago. Indonesia started
giving booster shots produced by Moderna to medical workers in July
and is considering extra doses for wider use. Britain, Germany and
France plan to begin rolling out boosters for the elderly and
vulnerable in September.
The World Health Organization has called for a halt to COVID-19
vaccine boosters until at least the end of September to allow for
the inoculation of at least 10% of the population of every country.
(Reporting by Deena Beasley, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
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