The fourth doses of the covid-19 vaccine for the immunosuppressed can start this week

(CNN) – According to the latest guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC), the fourth dose of the covid-19 vaccine may begin this week for the severely immunosuppressed.

In early August, the agency recommended that a third dose of an mRNA vaccine be added to the primary vaccination regimen for the severely immunosuppressed. Later, in October, the CDC went on to recommend a booster dose for the severely immunosuppressed ages 12 and older, at least six months after the third primary vaccination.

But the CDC recently went on to recommend boosters five months after primary vaccines. For immunocompromised people, this means that a fourth vaccine will be available for some as early as this week, five months after the third vaccine is licensed.

According to CDC data, more than 2 million people received an additional dose in the first week it was authorized, beginning Aug. 13.

Vaccination rates at this time are generally lower than in previous times of the pandemic, but the average number of people starting to be vaccinated, fully vaccinated, or receiving a booster dose has increased in recent days.