Starting this Wednesday, September 22, the application of the third dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 will begin to immunosuppressed patients, since they are more vulnerable to the virus.

These are patients with diseases such as cancer, or who require drugs that lower their defenses, as explained by health authorities.

According to the Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, the application of the third dose in this first phase will begin with the following patients:

- Patients receiving cancer treatment, who have tumors or cancer in the blood.
- Patients who have received an organ transplant and take immunosuppressive medications.
- Patients who have received stem cell transplants in the last two years.
- Patients with primary, moderate or severe immunodeficiency.
- Patients with advanced or untreated HIV infection.
- Patients with corticosteroid treatment or medications that can suppress their immune response.

This additional dose should be applied at least 28 days after receiving the second dose.

At this time, no additional doses are recommended for other populations.

Dr. Eduardo Ortega, from the National Secretariat of Science and Technology (Senacyt), previously explained that this measure arises from several components. "If the virus had not mutated, a booster was not required for up to two years, and in this case you have patients who require a third dose to achieve protection," Ortega explained.