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Can I get the COVID booster dose if I am pregnant? Who is considered immunocompromised?

Dr. Frank McGeorge answers COVID questions

DETROIT – Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Dr. Frank McGeorge has been keeping viewers up-to-date and informed on all fronts. He’s been answering your questions about the vaccine, the vaccination process and more.

Read: More answers to questions about coronavirus


Can and should I get the COVID booster shot if I am pregnant?

Yes. Pregnancy is considered a higher risk condition and qualifies for a booster dose.

Who is considered immunocompromised? Are you immunocompromised if you have high blood pressure or are overweight? Should anyone that has these conditions get the COVID-19 booster shot?

There are really two different questions in there. First off, people with those conditions are considered high risk for severe COVID and should receive a booster. But that is different than being immunocompromised. Having moderate to severe immune compromise means you need more than a booster dose. You need what is being referred to as a third, or additional dose as part of your initial vaccination.

The CDC considers the following situations as moderate to severe immune compromise: Receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood; Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system; Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system; Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as digeorge syndrome, wiskott-aldrich syndrome); Advanced or untreated HIV infection; Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response.

I don’t want to mix and match my booster. If I did not have side effects with the original Johnson and Johnson shot, can I count on having the same non-reaction to the booster?

The answer is: Probably. The available data suggests, in general, people will have a reaction to a booster vaccine that is similar to their original vaccine.

Read: Complete Michigan COVID coverage


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About the Authors
Frank McGeorge, MD headshot

Dr. McGeorge can be seen on Local 4 News helping Metro Detroiters with health concerns when he isn't helping save lives in the emergency room at Henry Ford Hospital.

Kayla Clarke headshot

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.

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