CDC Issues Vaccination Guidance for Persons With Underlying Conditions

By Neil P. First Posted: Dec 27, 2020 09:58 AM EST

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance on vaccinations for persons who have underlying conditions.

(Photo : Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

It is a well-known fact that persons with underlying conditions are vulnerable to COVID-19 because of their weak immune system. They are also part of the group who will receive the vaccine, so the U.S. CDC issued guidance for them.

CDC's Guidance for Persons With Underlying Conditions

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidance on Saturday stating that persons with underlying conditions can receive COVID-19 vaccines in any of the biotechnology companies. This is after a series of concern was raised to the agency.

According to the guidance, the U.S. CDC explained that "adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19," These are only applicable for those vaccines that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

The U.S. CDC also added that vaccine "may 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," It can be remembered in the previous guidance of CDC where they stated that people with previous allergic reaction should consult first their doctor before getting the vaccine.

The Hill stated that people with underlying conditions or weakened immune system due to other illnesses or medication may also receive the vaccine. However, they also need to know that there is limited safety data is available on the effects of the vaccines on these individuals.

Data of those with Underlying Conditions During the Clinical Trial

All COVID-19 vaccines must undergo into three different human clinical trials to ensure that the candidate vaccine is safe and effective.

The vaccine developers must present a set of data that includes age, ethnicity, the underlying conditions, and more to make sure that the vaccine fits everyone.

The U.S. CDC said that people who have HIV were included during the human clinical trials but the safety data for this group is not yet available. The agency also said on Saturday that on its guidance that individuals with autoimmune conditions may take the vaccine but there is no data currently available for the safety of the vaccine in this demographic.

Those who have Guillain-Barre syndrome, where a condition in which the body begins to attack parts of its own nervous system, may also receive vaccine doses. Part of those who will be allowed to get vaccinated is those who have Bell's palsy.

Moreover, despite the recommendation of the U.S. CDC to get vaccinated, they also advised to continue to follow the current COVID-19 health and safety protocols such as wearing a mask, social distancing, and avoiding social gatherings most especially indoor activities.

Both vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are given twice and are both administered several weeks apart. Final trial data on both vaccines showed them to have a roughly 95 percent efficacy rate at preventing COVID-19, although Moderna's vaccine has an 86 percent efficacy rate for those over the age of 65.