British Society for Immunology statement on COVID-19 vaccines for patients who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed

[crashdoll]

This is very clear, helpful and reassuring.

immunology.org/news/bsi-sta...

“All three of the COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer/BioNTech; AstraZeneca/Oxford; Moderna) that have currently been approved for use in the UK are safe to use for people who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed. None of these approved COVID-19 vaccines contain any active SARS-CoV-2 virus. The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are both mRNA vaccines which contain a small piece of genetic code from the SARS-CoV-2 virus to generate an immune response. The AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine is a viral vector vaccine, which uses an inactive unrelated virus (the viral vector) which cannot replicate to deliver SARS-CoV-2 genetic material to generate an immune response.

While COVID-19 vaccination might provide a lower level of protection in people who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised compared with the rest of the population, it is still very important that you get vaccinated as it will offer you a certain amount of protection against catching COVID-19. It is important that you receive two doses of the vaccine to maximise the protection that vaccination offers you.

COVID-19 vaccination will work best if you have a functioning immune system. For people currently undergoing whole organ or stem cell transplant and who may be severely immunocompromised, you should talk to your medical treatment team about the most suitable time to get your COVID-19 vaccination.

It’s important to remember that the COVID-19 vaccines can protect you from getting seriously ill with COVID-19, although if your immune system isn’t functioning optimally this protection will not be complete. We don’t currently have any evidence that the vaccines can stop you passing on the virus to others even if you make a good immune response. This means that even after you have been vaccinated, it’s very important that you still follow social distancing guidelines and wash your hands regularly.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should talk to your medical team or GP in the first instance.“

[allanah]

Excellent thank you xx

[helixhelix]

Well they’d better be safe as I had my first jab of the Moderna vaccine yesterday!

[crashdoll in reply to helixhelix]

Ah so you didn’t wake up today with any superpowers like being able to fly?! Disappointing! I was hoping it’d be a side effect.

[helixhelix in reply to crashdoll]

And no strange messages playing inside my head from Bill Gates either...

[bpeal1 in reply to helixhelix]

I was lucky enough to receive the phizer one on Monday and can also confirm no superpowers or messages from Bill Gates!!

[greynot in reply to helixhelix]

Not even the latest MSOffice suite?

[bubblyalex in reply to helixhelix]

Whoop whoop 🙌🏻

[bunnycaramel in reply to helixhelix]

Still waiting 🤞

[Oshgosh]

Thanks for the information.id left my rheumatologist a message aBout the vaccine and implications for people who take immunosuppressants.the advice they gave me was the same as in the information here.Take care

[bubblyalex]

Thank you. 😁

[happytulip]

Excellent information, thanks for sharing.

[Lolabridge]

Good news and it confirms we need two jabs if immunosuppressed. Thank you.

[bpeal1 in reply to Lolabridge]

Everyone needs two jabs, not just the immunosuppressed. The first one gives you most of the protection the second one makes it last longer.

[Lolabridge in reply to bpeal1]

Yes I know all the vaccines were tested and evaluated for efficacy over two doses but in the news I had heard that the government are considering only giving people one!

[bpeal1 in reply to Lolabridge]

No they are just delaying the second dose. Everyone still needs two.

I have been volunteering at our local hospital vaccination clinic. Everyone is given an appointment for their second dose. Originally these were for three weeks later, now they are for 10 weeks later (to allow for having to rearrange for self isolation / illness and still be within 12 weeks).

[Lolabridge in reply to bpeal1]

Yes that’s what is happening at the moment. Let’s hope it doesn’t get reduced to one dose, which I understand is being discussed.

[bpeal1 in reply to Lolabridge]

I’ve not heard anything about that being considered and I’ve been following the covid vaccine news as much as possible. Where have you read this? I’d be interested to see it.

[Lolabridge in reply to bpeal1]

I think it was on a BBC Newsnight programme recently.

[bpeal1 in reply to Lolabridge]

Sorry but I still can't find anything saying the UK are only considering one dose. I've looked on the news night website and google and can't find anything saying that at all. There is a lot of discussion about whether or not to delay the second dose up to 12 weeks but nowhere I can find says they are considering not giving a second dose at all. In fact everything I have found has said the opposite, stressing how important the second dose is.

[Garnacha in reply to bpeal1]

Hi, initially with the oxfordzeneca vaccine they said they'd give half a dose for the first one then a full dose for the second one as this they said provided the best protection, I wonder if you happen to know in your role as a volunteer vaccinator if the first dose of the oxfordzeneca one is only half a dose or the full dose please? I haven't heard or seen anyone mention this on any news or social media platforms x

[bpeal1 in reply to Garnacha]

From what I've read it was discussed, and this was what delayed the approval by a few days, however, when the the body which approves the vaccine looked at the data properly they decided that the extra protection actually came from delaying the second dose rather than the lower first dose, (the Oxford group trialled various gaps between doses and it happened that the group that had the lower first dose were also in one of the groups which had a longer gap between doses). That's why they made the decision to delay the second dose. The slight controversy comes from the fact that they then extended this advice to the Phizer one even though Phizer hadn't tested this.

However, please realise that this is just my understanding from what I have read I am not a medical person!

[Garnacha in reply to bpeal1]

Thank you, so does that mean for this particular vaccine it's only half a dose you get and the full dose in a few weeks time? x

[bpeal1 in reply to Garnacha]

No they are giving two full doses 10 - 12 weeks apart as they decided that it was the delay not the half dose which gave the best protection.

[Garnacha in reply to bpeal1]

Fab, thank you for confirming x

[Lolabridge in reply to bpeal1]

Seen in today’s The Times a report about a letter from Doctors Association UK to Matt Hancock et al ....“We must be clear that it is completely unacceptable to ignore the need for a second vaccination,” they said. “All studies confirm the need for this to provide reliable and lasting immunity. It must be noted that there is currently no data around the reliability of the immune response if vaccines are interchanged.”

[bpeal1 in reply to Lolabridge]

Thank you. I’ll take a look.

[Lolabridge in reply to bpeal1]

Featured now on BBC4 radio word at one. Listen from about 1.18 pm

[bpeal1 in reply to Lolabridge]

Thank you I have just listened to it on iPlayer. They were discussing whether it is OK to delay the second dose rather than not give it at all, although the BMA doctor didn't make that clear the guy from JCVI did and explained their thinking about why. Therefore they are still planning to give tow doses of both vaccines the discussion is about how long a gap they should leave between the two doses of the Phizer vaccine.

[Neonkittie17]

Thank you 💗

[hatshepsut]

Excellent summary. Thank for posting, Sophie

[springcross]

Thanks cd, very interesting. xx

[Julyjoseph]

Before I received my vaccine, during the assessment Doctor explained to me the same information that I may not get full benefit from vaccine due to my medication. But according to him I should be vaccinated because it will help to lower the disease (covid 19)severity. My second dose(Pfizer)will be after 21 days.

[Sohmui]

It is important to have two doses. Tell that to our government.

[GinnyE]

Excellent information from a body that should know. Thank you.

[Gymcactus]

I have my vaccine on Saturday, so thankful as I am in group 4, so didn't expect it this early.

[Lolabridge in reply to Gymcactus]

Excellent! In which region do you live?

[Gymcactus in reply to Lolabridge]

Hi Lolabridge, I am near Peterborough

[Lolabridge in reply to Gymcactus]

That’s good. I think the rollout is going faster in your area, and Yorkshire apparently. It’s slower in London an the SE I gather.

[Otto11 in reply to Lolabridge]

That’s good news as I’m in Yorkshire.

[crashdoll in reply to Gymcactus]

I’m group 2 (frontline social care worker) but still waiting. Think it’s because I live in a densely populated area.

[bpeal1]

Sounds like it might just be some random scientist giving his own personal ideas then. Thank you!