Following news that NHS frontline staff are no longer being considered a high priority when the first coronavirus vaccines begin their distribution over the next few weeks Professor Antonio Pagliuca, Chief Scientific Adviser at Anthony Nolan says: ‘The timely care of stem cell transplant patients is being put at risk with this decision and it must be reviewed.
‘The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation prioritisation identified age, those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and their carers as needing rapid vaccination. ‘Furthermore, patients with haematological cancers and who have received stem cell transplants have been recognised by many studies as at extremely high risk from Covid-19, with increased mortality. It is disappointing that these patients, and the staff caring for them, will have to wait; possibly for several months.’