Uptake Low for COVID-19 Boosters in Immunocompromised Adults

For immunocompromised adults, adherence to COVID-19 booster recommendations is low, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Sara Y. Tartof, PhD, MPH, and colleagues examined mRNA COVID-19 vaccine uptake and related factors among 42,697 immunocompromised individuals. The researchers found that 78.0% had received a third mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, while only 41.0% had received a fourth dose. Following the CDC recommendation to receive a second monovalent booster, there was only 0.9% uptake. The likelihood of receiving at least four doses was increased for adults aged 65 or older compared with those aged 18-44 (HR, 3.95) or 45-64 (HR, 2.52). The likelihood of receiving at least four doses was lower for Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adults versus non-Hispanic White adults (HRs, 0.77 and 0.82, respectively), for individuals with prior documented SARS-CoV-2 infection (HR, 0.71) and for those receiving high-dose corticosteroids (HR, 0.88). “A renewed focus on targeted and tailored efforts to ensure that immunocompromised individuals remain up to date with continuously evolving COVID-19 booster dose recommendations is warranted at this stage of the pandemic,” Dr. Tartof and colleagues wrote.