COLUMBIA, South Carolina — The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced that it is recommending a second COVID-19 booster shot for certain individuals.
The reason for this push is to further prevent severe cases in higher-risk groups, says DHEC. This new recommendation from DHEC mirrors the ones announced Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
DHEC recommends a second booster for people 12 and up who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. The agency says a second booster should come at least four months after the first one.
Individuals who are 18 years of age and older and have taken two doses of the Janssen vaccine should receive a second booster of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine four months after their Janssen booster dose.
DHEC also stated that people who are 50 and older and are not immunocompromised can choose to get the fourth dose, and there may be some benefit to waiting for an increase in COVID-19 levels to occur, so the booster doesn't wane ahead of a potential spike.
“These recommendations will help us continue to protect those people in our communities who are high risk,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Public Health Director. “While we are very pleased by the drop in hospitalizations and deaths over the past several weeks, history has taught us that a spike in cases can occur at any time by the introduction of a new variant. A second booster for these groups, along with other preventative measures, will go a long way in preventing severe cases if that occurs.”