How have you been counseling patients with sickle cell regarding a 3rd COVID vaccine?  

People who are elderly or immunosuppressed appear likely to benefit from a 3rd dose of mRNA vaccines. Whether or not this applies to a more general population, including people with sickle cell disease is unknown. Sickle cell disease patients are not immunosuppressed in the typical meaning of this t...

The rationale for vaccination was presented previously. We urge all of our patients to get third doses.

Besides the kind of immunosuppression and potential lower antibody development to the vaccine in SCD (very pertinent and interesting data), just going by the complications that individuals with SCD can experience with triggers such as hypoxia, dehydration, acute illness, pro-thrombotic, etc (all whi...