People who are most vulnerable to Covid-19 may be offered a booster vaccination from September to ensure the protection they have from first and second doses is maintained ahead of the winter and against new variants, following interim advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
In response, Henny Braund MBE, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, says:
‘This is wonderful news for stem cell transplant patients who have been doing their best to stay safe for the last 16 months. We know two doses of current Covid-19 vaccines do not provide as much protection for patients who are immunocompromised as for those in the general population, so a booster, which could provide vital additional protection, is particularly important for patients with blood cancer and blood disorders.
‘Anthony Nolan will continue to work with patients, the clinical and research community to understand how we can all return to a normal way of life. We urge the government to join us by urgently funding more vital research into how well vaccines work in people with conditions which affect their immune system.’