Reporter: PEOPLE WHO ARE AUTISTIC NOW HAVE A HIGHER CHANCE OF BEING PROTECTED
FROM COVID-19.
THE BOOSTER SHOT WHICH IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED HAS
BEEN CLEARED BY THE C-D-C.
DOCTOR JON MICHNOVICZ WHO TREATS PATIENTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES SAYS BEFORE THE VACCINE CAME OUT, COVID WAS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR
GROUP HOMES.
Doctor Jon Michnovicz: “SUS, one group home, has 30-40 people and every single person had the antibodies from being
exposed.”
Reporter: STUDIES SHOW THAT 40 TO 44 PERCENT OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED FOR
BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
ACCORDING TO THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, PEOPLE WITH AUTISM
ARE MORE THAN THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO DIE FROM COVID THAN OTHERS.
WHILE IT IS HEAVILY RECOMMENDED THAT AUTISTIC PEOPLE GET VACCINATED,
SOME IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PEOPLE SHOWED WEAK RESPONSES TO THE INITIAL DOSES
OF THE VACCINE.
DOCTOR MICHNOVICZ SAYS EITHER WAY THREE SHOTS ARE BETTER THAN TWO.
Doctor Michnovicz: “Folks who are immunocompromised really are at risk of getting severely ill and dying. And so if this
gives them a little bit of help I think it’s worth it.”
Reporter: AS OF RIGHT NOW ONLY PFIZER AND MODERNA RECEIVED THE GREEN LIGHT FOR A
THIRD VACCINE.THE F-D-A AND C-D-C SAYS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH DATA AVAILABLE TO GIVE
AUTHORIZATION TO JOHNSON&JOHNSON FOR A BOOSTER.JANELLE POTTINGER, N-C-C NEWS.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)– The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared a third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine for people who are immunocompromised.
This clearance does not only affect people with underlying health issues but people who are autistic as well. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, people with autism are approximately three times as likely to die from COVID than others. Doctor Jon Michnovicz who treats patients with developmental disabilities says before the vaccine came out, COVID was a huge problem for group homes.
“SUS, one group home, has 30-40 people and every single person had the antibodies from being exposed,” Dr. Michnovicz said.
He says some are more susceptible to getting COVID because of hand and mouth touching.
Studies show that 40 to 44 percent of people hospitalized for breakthrough cases are immunocompromised. While it is heavily recommended that autistic people get vaccinated, some immunocompromised people showed weak responses to the initial doses of the vaccine. Dr. Michnovicz says it is better to be safe than sorry.
“Folks who are immunocompromised really are at risk of getting severely ill and dying. And so, if this gives them a little bit of help I think it’s worth it,” he said.
As of right now, only Pfizer and Moderna received the green light to distribute the third vaccine but the CDC and Food and Drug Administration says there is not enough data available to clear the Johnson & Johnson booster shot.
