People Who Are Immunocompromised | CDC

Some people who are immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) are more likely to get sick with COVID-19 or be sick for a longer period. People are considered to be moderately or severely immunocompromised due to several types of conditions and treatments, including:

• Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
• Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
• Receipt of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy or hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppressive therapy)
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection (people with HIV and CD4 cell counts less than 200/mm3, history of an AIDS-defining illness without immune reconstitution, or clinical manifestations of symptomatic HIV)
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., 20 or more mg of prednisone or equivalent per day when administered for 2 or more weeks), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory

If you or someone you live or spend time with is immunocompromised, it is important to have a COVID-19 plan to protect yourself from infection and prepare for what to do if you get sick. Information on this page can help you build a COVID-19 plan for preventing, diagnosing, and treating COVID, so you know what to do and can act quickly if you’re exposed, develop symptoms, or test positive and when COVID-19 levels are increasing in your community.

How to Protect Yourself

Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting people—especially those who are up to date— from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and even dying. As with vaccines for other diseases, you are protected best when you stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. The people you live or spend time with can help protect you and themselves by staying up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines too.

You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have received all doses in the primary series and all boosters recommended for you, when eligible. Since your immune response to COVID-19 vaccination may not be as strong as in people who are not immunocompromised, you have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

COVID-19 pre-exposure prophylaxis

Take extra precautions

Even if you stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and receive Evusheld, taking multiple prevention steps can provide additional layers of protection from COVID-19.

• Wear a well-fitting, high quality mask or respirator. Properly fitting respirators provide the highest level of protection.
• Avoid poorly ventilated or crowded indoor settings.
• When indoors with others, try to improve ventilation as much as possible.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

It’s important to be prepared and know what to do if you get sick with COVID-19. Don’t delay seeking medical care. Be prepared by understanding the following steps:

What you can do now

• Know the symptoms of COVID-19.
• Learn how to check your COVID-19 Community Level. Knowing your community levels will help you decide when to add layers of protection, like wearing a mask.
• Know how to get tested as soon as possible if you develop symptoms.
• Know how to reach a healthcare provider right away, including after hours or weekends. Ask them about telehealth appointment options.
• Have an updated list of all your current medications in case you need to see a different provider.

What to do if you were exposed to COVID-19

• Determine if you should stay home.
• Monitor your health for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested at least 5 days after you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, even if you don’t develop symptoms.
• Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.

What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19

Effective treatments are now widely available and free, and you may be eligible.

• Contact your healthcare provider, health department, or Community Health Center to learn about treatment options. Don’t delay! Treatment must be started soon after you first develop symptoms to be effective.
• If you don’t have timely access to a healthcare provider, check if a Test to Treat location is in your community. You can get tested, receive a prescription from a healthcare provider (either onsite or by telehealth), and have it filled all at one location.
• Isolate until it’s safe to be around others. CDC recommends that you isolate for at least 10 and up to 20 days. Check with your healthcare provider to learn when you can be around others.
• Monitor your symptoms. Call your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. If you notice emergency warning signs, call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility.

If you test positive for COVID-19, oral antiviral and monoclonal antibody treatments are available for people who are more likely to get very sick. Learn more about COVID-19 treatment.

Don’t delay: Treatment must be started right away to be effective. Talk to your healthcare provider about what treatment options are best for you.