Can myeloma patients with a low COVID-19 antibody response get a booster shot?

Transcript:

This week’s “Ask Dr Durie” comes from a patient who wants to know if they should get a COVID-19 booster shot?  

Well, the very great news is that the answer to this question can now be yes, since the FDA has now just authorized an extra third booster shot for patients who are immunocompromised which obviously includes patients with multiple myeloma, particularly those on active therapy. 

This is a very, very important step forward because we know two things: Number, at least half of the patients with myeloma when they get the two-shot Pfizer or MODERNA vaccinations, they do not achieve good antibody levels.  

The other thing that we know from a recent randomized trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, is that immunocompromised patients do get added antibody level increases with this third booster shot. We know that it is a beneficial thing to do.  

The BOTTOM LINE which is, as I say, great news right now is that this patient and all patients with myeloma should talk to their doctor about this, about the option to get that third booster shot. Discuss what is the ongoing therapy? What might be the ideal time to get that booster shot? But there’s no doubt right now that it’s strongly recommended to get ahead and get that third booster shot, whether the Pfizer or MODERNA vaccines, whichever one may be available.