The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is responsible for developing immunization recommendations for those living in the US for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Prior to the ACIP’s scheduled meeting on September 12th where they were tasked with deciding what groups of individuals would qualify for the updated monovalent COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Paul Offit (who is an FDA vaccine advisor) was interviewed stating he did not think the committee should recommend the fall COVID-19 booster dose for anyone who did not have high-risk factors. This would have meant those living with (or in close contact with) an individual with CLL / SLL would potentially not have qualified to receive an updated booster vaccine dose, putting not only those individuals at higher risk of severe disease, but also those they live with who are immunocompromised.
CLL Society wrote a letter to ACIP prior to their meeting urging them to take into consideration the greater needs of the immunocompromised community when making their recommendations, noting that those in close contact with immunocompromised individuals should have the option to receive the updated COVID-19 booster dose if they choose to do so. After deliberating, the committee did vote in favor 13-1 of recommending everyone over the age of six months old to receive the updated XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccine dose this fall.
