COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters and Additional Doses for People With Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Current Guidelines | MyMSTeam

Connect with others who understand.

sign up log in
Resources
About MyMSTeam
Powered By
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
NEWS

COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters and Additional Doses for People With MS: Current Guidelines

Medically reviewed by Evelyn O. Berman, M.D. — Written by Kelly Crumrin
Updated on September 15, 2021

  • COVID-19 vaccine boosters will become available this fall in the U.S. to people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
  • People who received the vaccine earliest will be the first eligible to receive boosters, beginning eight months after the date of their second dose.
  • People who are immunocompromised — including people taking certain disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) — may be eligible to receive a third dose of the vaccines now.

On Aug. 18, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a plan for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccine boosters will become available in the U.S. this fall. Details about vaccine boosters are yet to come, and they will be subject to review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommendations by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. These organizations are currently examining data on vaccine effectiveness against new coronavirus variants.

Who Will Be Eligible for Vaccine Boosters?

Thus far, vaccine boosters are only recommended for those who received either messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, whether from Pfizer or Moderna. (The Johnson & Johnson vaccine works differently, and the need for a booster is being evaluated separately.) The CDC stated that people will become eligible for a vaccine booster eight months after they received their second dose. Those who received the vaccine earliest will be the first to be offered vaccine boosters. In most cases, those with earliest access to the vaccine were older adults, health care providers, and residents of long-term care facilities.

Boosters vs. Additional Doses for Immunocompromised People

A COVID-19 vaccine booster is administered after someone developed adequate immunity after a second dose, but that immunity has decreased over time.

However, an additional dose of the vaccine may be recommended for those who did not develop an adequate immune response after the two-dose vaccination series. The CDC recommends a third dose of the vaccines for moderately to severely immunocompromised people at least 28 days after the second vaccination with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

Having MS does not necessarily mean that someone is immunocompromised. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, people taking the following DMTs for MS have been found to have a reduced or absent response to the COVID-19 vaccines:

  • Gilenya (fingolimod)
  • Mayzent (siponimod)
  • Zeposia (ozanimod)
  • Ponvory (ponesimod)
  • Lemtrada (alemtuzumab)
  • Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)
  • Kesimpta (ofatumumab)
  • Any biosimilars of these medications — in some cases, the same drug is available under a different brand name

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society also provides guidance on timing MS medications and COVID-19 vaccines, depending on which disease-modifying therapy a person is taking.

If you believe you are immunocompromised, ask your doctor whether you might benefit from an additional dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Updated on September 15, 2021
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

Become a Subscriber

Get the latest news about multiple sclerosis sent to your inbox.

Evelyn O. Berman, M.D. is a neurology and pediatric specialist and treats disorders of the brain in children. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Learn more about her here.
Kelly Crumrin is a senior editor at MyHealthTeam and leads the creation of content that educates and empowers people with chronic illnesses. Learn more about her here.

Related articles

In a recent survey, 81 percent of MyMSTeam members reported that multiple sclerosis (MS) negative...

Stress, Affording Treatment, and Quality of Life With MS: See Survey Results

In a recent survey, 81 percent of MyMSTeam members reported that multiple sclerosis (MS) negative...
This is a short guided meditation by Dr. Christiane Wolf on self-kindness, which gives you more s...

Self-Kindness When Struggling: 6-Minute Guided Meditation

This is a short guided meditation by Dr. Christiane Wolf on self-kindness, which gives you more s...
Since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, Ashley Ratcliff has used her voice t...

2 Facts About MS I Wish People Knew

Since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, Ashley Ratcliff has used her voice t...
Medical emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere — at school or work or while traveling. Dependin...

3 Benefits of MS Medical Alert Bracelets

Medical emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere — at school or work or while traveling. Dependin...
Menopause can cause many uncomfortable symptoms. People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may wonder a...

MS and Menopause: 7 Things You Should Know

Menopause can cause many uncomfortable symptoms. People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may wonder a...
If multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms are making it difficult for you to keep up with the demands o...

When To Quit Working With MS vs. Taking a Medical Leave

If multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms are making it difficult for you to keep up with the demands o...

Recent articles

If you are living with multiple sclerosis (MS), you have probably searched the internet for healt...

Reliable Health Websites: 6 Tips To Find Trustworthy MS Info Online

If you are living with multiple sclerosis (MS), you have probably searched the internet for healt...
Samantha Salvaggio Vanderman is a chronic illness coach, personal trainer, and behavior change s...

Overcome MS: 4 Tips for Choosing a Treatment

Samantha Salvaggio Vanderman is a chronic illness coach, personal trainer, and behavior change s...
If you’re having flares more often, or if they leave you feeling significantly worse than before,...

Should You Be on an Advanced MS Treatment? 5 Symptoms To Look For

If you’re having flares more often, or if they leave you feeling significantly worse than before,...
YogaVista.tv and MyMSTeam have partnered to bring you these mini-lessons or "yoga snacks."

Easy Movement Videos for People With MS

YogaVista.tv and MyMSTeam have partnered to bring you these mini-lessons or "yoga snacks."
Watch the video to see how Todd Cerveris, a member of MyMSTeam, finds a medication plan that fits...

One Way To Treat MS Without Slowing Down

Watch the video to see how Todd Cerveris, a member of MyMSTeam, finds a medication plan that fits...
MS News
MS News

Thank you for subscribing!

Become a member to get even more:

sign up for free

close