Tri-County Health Care is now offering a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for the immunocompromised. The FDA authorized a third dose on Aug. 13, 2021.

At this time, only mRNA vaccines like Pfizer or Moderna require a third dose. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, to receive a third dose, an individual must meet certain criteria:

• Receiving active treatment for a solid tumor and hematologic malignancies.

• Received a solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy.

• Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within two years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy).

• Moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge, Wiskott-Aldrich syndromes).

• Advanced or untreated HIV infection.

• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20 mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.

MDH further explains that third doses of Pfizer should be administered to people 12 and older. Moderna should be distributed to people 18 and older. The same brand of vaccine used in the primary sequence should be used for the third dose. The additional dose can be administered 28 days after the two-dose sequence.

In Wadena County, Tri-County Health Care is a resource for third doses, especially for people seeking Pfizer vaccine. People seeking a third dose of Moderna should contact Wadena County Public Health. 

Also, Tri-County Health Care is not offering Johnsons & Johnson vaccine at this time.

To schedule a vaccine appointment, please call (218) 631-3510. To contact Wadena County Public Health, please call (218) 631-7629.