This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a third shot for immunocompromised people to keep the body’s defenses strong against COVID-19.
Esther and Herbert Spiegel are around 80 years old and share many similarities, including their health concerns. They’re both immunocompromised, meaning their body’s defenses against infection are dangerously lowered.
They’re among the priority patients to receive the first shot of a third round of the COVID-19 vaccine. A visit to the vaccine site was also a walk down memory lane for Esther Spiegel.
“I grew up in a time where polio was rampant. I still remember it, and we were out of the city for three or four months, on our own, in a place where children were held. No parents came,” she said. “It was horrible.”
What You Need To Know
- New York has begun to administer third doses of COVID-19 vaccination doses to those who qualify
- Booster shots for the rest of the general population will be available starting Sept. 20
- Esther and Herbert Spiegel were among the first to receive the third dose at Rockland County’s clinic
Esther Spiegel was referring to her childhood, when she escaped the Polio outbreak.
“I really wouldn’t want that to happen to any other kid. It marked me...think of your children, grandchildren, your neighbor's children, and we want them safe. We want them to grow up,” Esther Spiegel said.
As federal and state authorities release more guidelines about additional vaccine shots, health experts say it’s important to know the difference between a booster and a third dose.
Cornerstone Family Healthcare pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Avi Silber distinguished the need for a third dose for immunocompromised, versus a booster for the general population.
“A third dose is not a booster shot. A third dose is looking at people with certain immunocompromised conditions and saying they didn’t necessarily respond to two doses because of their underlying condition. Their immune system isn’t that high,” said Silber.
The Spiegels jumped at the opportunity to boost their immunity and encouraged others to do the same.
“Don’t be afraid, come and get it,” said Esther Spiegel. “It’s not only for yourself, it’s for your neighbors and your family.”
The couple walked out of the clinic after just 20 minutes. They said they planned to spend Thursday relaxing while their body got used to the third dose.