for the Public
News, updates and resources to keep you informed and inspired.
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
COVID-19 vaccines elicit strong cellular immunity and robust clinical protection in CLL
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
Multiple Sclerosis
Response to COVID-19 booster vaccinations in seronegative people with MS
COVID-19 vaccine response in people with multiple sclerosis
HIV
Organ transplant
Immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in kidney transplant recipients
General and miscellaneous
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Responses in Individuals with Antibody Deficiency: Findings from the COV-AD Study
Should we be clinically assessing antibody responses to covid vaccines in immunocompromised people?
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Responses in Individuals with Antibody Deficiency: Findings From The COV-AD Study
Resources
Update on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for 2023
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
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)
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
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
Information about the COVID-19 vaccines for people with prostate cancer, prepared by Prostate Cancer UK.
Webinar: Living with immunodeficiency, living with COVID-19
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?
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
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
Information for people with vasculitis about COVID-19 and vaccines, prepared by Vasculitis UK.
Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with diabetes
Information and guidance about COVID-19 vaccines for people with diabetes. Created by Diabetes UK.
The SOAP study: information for people with Myelodysplastic Syndromes
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.
COVID-19 and your stem cell transplant
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
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
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
Information about vaccines for COVID-19 for people with arthritis, prepared by Versus Arthritis.
Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with kidney disease
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
Information about the COVID-19 vaccines for people with liver disease, prepared by the British Liver Trust.
FAQ on boosters and 3rd primary doses
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.