Complying with guidance from both the Center for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bucks County has started giving third shots in a COVID-19 series to immunocompromised residents. Kate Fishman covered the protective measure for the Bensalem Patch.

As of early last week, 11 residents rolled up their sleeves for a third vaccine. They received the Pfizer-developed dose; a Moderna version is expected this week. J&J’s single-dose protectant has not yet been approved for a second dose.

The additional shots are for people with medical conditions that either suppress the immune system or require them to take immunosuppressive medication. The group includes:

• Cancer patients undergoing active treatment
• Some organ and stem cell transplant recipients
• People with moderate or severe immunodeficiencies
• People with advanced or untreated HIV
• People on high-dose corticosteroids

The middle week of August saw 5,702 Bucks County residents get vaccinated, the highest rate since late June. The CDC reports that 66.3 percent of us who are 12 and older are protected by at least one dose.

The recent spike in variant COVID-19 cases — data show numbers rising to levels not seen since May — underscores the importance of getting vaccinated. On August 9 alone, two residents died from their COVID-19 infections.

More on this protection for at-risk residents is at the Bensalem Patch.