Experts in the US have said that those who have undergone an organ transplant may benefit from a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This was based on a study conducted on fully-vaccinated 120 organ transplant recipients.

In a randomised trial, 120 organ transplant recipients, who were fully vaccinated, were divided into two groups. One group was administered a third dose of the vaccine, the other received saline.

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The subsequent tests conducted to check which group had a better immune response, the researchers found the response rate was 55% among those who had received the third dose compared to 18% who hadn’t.

The study, published in New England Journal of Medicine, also found positive outcomes in terms of neutralising antibodies and T-Cell response in patients who had received the third shot.

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“This study has demonstrated how a third dose may offer additional protection to immune-compromised patients. However, available evidence shows the general population may not require a third dose. Even in the US, UK and other countries, the governments are considering a third dose for the vulnerable population,” said Dr Gagandeep Kang, an eminent virologist, according to The Times of India. 

It has already been concluded through studies that immune-compromised patients take longer to fight off the SARS-CoV-2. Public health experts say a third dose may help avoid the emergence of new variants by preventing severe illness and need for hospitalisation.

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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to tweak the emergency use authorisation granted to the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow for people with a compromised immune system to get a third dose, NBC News reported quoting sources.

This will not include fully vaccinated people, as both vaccines have proven to be highly effective in preventing hospitalisation and death in them. A Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory group will meet on Friday – they are likely to vote on whether to recommend a third dose in immunocompromised people.