For those with an interest - OCTAVE study initial findings reveal vaccine responses in patients with impaired immune systems

[John_Mills]

The OCTAVE trial is one of the largest studies in the world so far into post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in immunocompromised patients and is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC). OCTAVE is a collaborative research project involving groups in the Universities of Glasgow, Birmingham, Oxford, Liverpool, Imperial College London and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

vasculitis.org.uk/news/octa...

[Mooka]

Thanks John. I hope the medics are telling patients this before starting them on rituximab.

[John_Mills Volunteer in reply to Mooka]

All patients should be informed by their consultant of all the risks and benefits when prescribing Rituximab.

[Galaxy2]

Thanks John for this, very interesting and worrying for those of us on rituximab. I will definitely be taking my third dose of the vaccine when I'm offered it and can only hope it will help if only to some extent. It's all very worrying still.

I had a conversation with my specialist earlier this year about being treated with a different immune suppressant which I think I will continue with in my next appointment as it feels to me like being on rituximab just leaves us in such a vulnerable position and covid doesn't look like it's going anywhere.