On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised get an additional dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine after the initial two doses. Widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic.

This includes:

• Recipients of organ or stem cell transplants
• People with advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active recipients of treatment for cancer
• People who are taking some medications that weaken the immune system
• And others

We spoke with Harold J. Phillips, Director of The White House Office of National AIDS Policy, about what people with HIV need know. “There are three key messages we need to share,” he said:

• Everyone over 12 years of age, regardless of HIV status, get vaccinated.
• Those with advanced HIV disease and/or not on medications, get a third dose of the vaccine.
• Those in HIV care and treatment who are virally suppressed, talk with your health care provider about the need for an additional dose.

“By working together and spreading the word,” he continued, “we can help keep everyone in our HIV community safe and healthy.”