Information for people with weakened immune systems

If you have a condition or are undergoing a treatment that is likely to reduce your immune response to COVID-19 vaccination,  or increase your susceptibility to infection and severe illness, it is important that you have up-to-date information about the vaccines.

This section aims to being all this information together in one place so you can access it easily and keep up to date with developments of interest.

You may also be interested in studies currently under way on immune responses in people with a range of conditions, and relevant recent published papers.

**Scroll down for relevant resources from a range of organisations**

 


Ongoing studies and initiatives exploring immune response to vaccination in people with a range of conditions:

UK Coronavirus Cancer Programme (cancer / immunodeficiency)

SOAP (cancer)

PREPARE (blood cancer)

COV-AD (immune deficiency)

MELODY (organ transplants, blood cancer, autoimmune conditions)

VROOM (methotrexate)

Vasculitis study (vasculitis and other autoimmune rheumatic conditions)

CAPTURE (cancer)

VIBRANT (factors affecting reinfection)

OCTAVE / OCTAVE DUO (clinically at-risk groups)

PROSECO (lymphoma)

Determining the immunological basis for weakened SARS-CoV-2 vaccination outcomes (HIV and B cell lymphoma)


Scientific papers relating to conditions / treatments that may affect the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines:

Cancer

Association of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Antibody Vaccine Response With Infection Severity in Patients With Cancer A National COVID Cancer Cross-sectional Evaluation

COVID-19 vaccine boosted immunity against Omicron in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

COVID-19: Third dose booster vaccine effectiveness against breakthrough coronavirus infection, hospitalisations and death in patients with cancer: A population-based study

Outcomes of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron (B.1.1.529) variant outbreak among vaccinated and unvaccinated patients with cancer in Europe: results from the retrospective, multicentre, OnCovid registry study

Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 breakthrough infections in patients with cancer (UKCCEP): a population-based test-negative case-control study

COVID-19 vaccines elicit strong cellular immunity and robust clinical protection in CLL

Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with acute leukaemia and high risk MDS on active anti-cancer therapies

Immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants after two and three doses of vaccine in B-cell malignancies: UK PROSECO study

Omicron neutralising antibodies after third COVID-19 vaccine dose in patients with cancer

Humoral and cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with lymphoid malignancies

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responses following CD20-depletion treatment in patients with haematological and rheumatological disease: a West Midlands Research Consortium study

Functional antibody and T cell immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection, including by variants of concern, in patients with cancer: the CAPTURE study

Impaired Neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Vaccinated Patients With B Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

Humoral and cellular immunity to delayed second dose of SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination in patients with cancer

Heterologous prime-boost vaccination targeting MAGE-type antigens promotes tumor T-cell infiltration and improves checkpoint blockade therapy

Whole blood-based measurement of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses reveals asymptomatic infection and vaccine efficacy in healthy subjects and patients with solid organ cancers

Antibody Responses After First and Second COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

Single dose of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 induces high frequency of neutralising antibody and polyfunctional T-cell responses in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms

Multiple Sclerosis

Response to COVID-19 booster vaccinations in seronegative people with MS

CD19 B cell repopulation after ocrelizumab, alemtuzumab and cladribine: Implications for SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations in multiple sclerosis

COVID-19 vaccine response in people with multiple sclerosis

HIV

Durability of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 (AZD1222) vaccination in people living with HIV - responses to SARS-CoV-2, variants of concern and circulating coronaviruses

Safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in HIV infection: a single-arm substudy of a phase 2/3 clinical trial

Organ transplant 

Immune responses following 3rd and 4th doses of heterologous and homologous COVID-19 vaccines in kidney transplant recipients

Systematic review of spontaneous reports of myocarditis and pericarditis in transplant recipients and immunocompromised patients following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination

Immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in kidney transplant recipients

General and miscellaneous

Impact of vaccination on hospitalization and mortality from COVID-19 in patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiency: The United Kingdom experience

COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody and T-cell responses in immunosuppressed patients with inflammatory bowel disease after the third vaccine dose (VIP): a multicentre, prospective, case-control study

Age-Associated B cells predict impaired humoral immunity after COVID-19 vaccination in patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade

Vaccine escape, increased breakthrough and reinfection in infliximab-treated patients with IBD during the Omicron wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Effect of a 2-week interruption in methotrexate treatment versus continued treatment on COVID-19 booster vaccine immunity in adults with inflammatory conditions (VROOM study): a randomised, open label, superiority trial

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake in people with kidney disease: an OpenSAFELY cohort study

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Responses in Individuals with Antibody Deficiency: Findings from the COV-AD Study

Humoral and cellular immunogenicity to a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 in people receiving methotrexate or targeted immunosuppression: a longitudinal cohort study

The effect of methotrexate and targeted immunosuppression on humoral and cellular immune responses to the COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2: a cohort study

Should we be clinically assessing antibody responses to covid vaccines in immunocompromised people?

Increased seroprevalence and improved antibody responses following third primary SARS-CoV-2 immunisation: an update from the COV-AD study

Safety of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: results from the EULAR Coronavirus Vaccine (COVAX) physician-reported registry

Determinants of uptake of a third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Increased seroprevalence and improved antibody responses following third primary SARS-CoV-2 immunisation: an update from the COV-AD study

Antibody decay, T cell immunity and breakthrough infections following two SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses in inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with infliximab and vedolizumab

COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibody responses in immunosuppressed patients with inflammatory bowel disease (VIP): a multicentre, prospective, case-control study

COVID-19 vaccine-induced T-cell responses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: preferential induction by ChAdOx1

Vaccine hesitancy and access to psoriasis care in the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from a global patient-reported cross-sectional survey

Cross reactivity of spike glycoprotein induced antibody against Delta and Omicron variants before and after third SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose in healthy and immunocompromised individuals

SARS-CoV-2 infection after vaccination in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Responses in Individuals with Antibody Deficiency: Findings From The COV-AD Study

Efficacy of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine against severe COVID-19 in those with risk conditions and residual risk to the clinically extremely vulnerable: the REACT-SCOT case-control study

Initial experience of the safety and tolerability of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-Bio-N-Tech) vaccine in extremely vulnerable children aged 12–15 years

Examining the Immunological Effects of COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Conditions Potentially Leading to Diminished Immune Response Capacity – The OCTAVE Trial

Safety of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: results from the EULAR Coronavirus Vaccine (COVAX) physician-reported registry


Resources

 

Update on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for 2023

UK Parliament branding

An announcement made by the UK Government on 25 January 2023 about plans for the COVID-19 vaccine programme in the coming year.

Webinar: Living with COVID-19 and blood cancer

Screenshot of Leukaemia Care webinar

Webinar hosted by Leukaemia Care featuring Prof Alex Richter from the University of Birmingham, looking at the latest situation for people living with blood cancer (26 September 2022).

Q&A – COVID-19 vaccines and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)

Image of healthcare worker caring for man

A set of answers to frequently asked questions based on research on immune responses in people with CLL undertaken by a team at the University of Birmingham.

Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with motor neurone disease

Motor Neurone Disease Association logo

Information about COVID-19 (including vaccines) for people with motor neurone disease, prepared by the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer UK logo

Information about the COVID-19 vaccines for people with prostate cancer, prepared by Prostate Cancer UK.

Webinar: Living with immunodeficiency, living with COVID-19

Screenshot of BSI webinar

A panel of experts discuss the cutting-edge research to understand the immune response after infection and vaccination in people with immune deficiency. Hosted by the British Society for Immunology in association with the COV-AD study.

COVID-19 vaccines: how effective are they in people with weakened immune systems?

Image from BSI webinar on vaccine responses in immunocompromised people

A panel of experts discuss the available research to understand immune responses after COVID-19 vaccination in people who are immunosuppressed and how this can be managed in future. Created by the British Society for Immunology.

Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with myeloma

Myeloma UK logo

Answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines from people with myeloma. Created by Myeloma UK.

Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with vasculitis

Vasculitis UK logo

Information for people with vasculitis about COVID-19 and vaccines, prepared by Vasculitis UK.

Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with diabetes

Diabetes UK logo

Information and guidance about COVID-19 vaccines for people with diabetes. Created by Diabetes UK.

The SOAP study: information for people with Myelodysplastic Syndromes

MDS UK logo

An update on results from the SOAP study on vaccine effectiveness in people with Myelodysplastic Syndromes, a group of malignant blood disorders. Created by the MDS UK Patient Support Group.

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COVID-19 and your stem cell transplant

Anthony Nolan logo

Information for people who have had a stem cell transplant, including a section specifically on vaccines for COVID-19. Prepared by Anthony Nolan. 

Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with blood cancer

Blood Cancer UK logo

Information on COVID-19 and vaccines for people affected by leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, MDS, MPN, or any blood cancer. Created by Blood Cancer UK.

Information about COVID-19vaccines for people with MS

MS Society logo

The latest information about vaccines for COVID-19 for people with MS. Created by the MS Society.

Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with arthritis

Versus Arthritis logo

Information about vaccines for COVID-19 for people with arthritis, prepared by Versus Arthritis.

Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with kidney disease

Kidney Research UK logo

Information about the COVID-19 vaccines for people with kidney disease, prepared by Kidney Research UK.

Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with liver disease

British Liver Trust logo

Information about the COVID-19 vaccines for people with liver disease, prepared by the British Liver Trust.

FAQ on boosters and 3rd primary doses

Woman with COVID-19 vaccine

A list of answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccine boosters and 3rd primary doses. This is a live document that will be updated over time.