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Severe Immunosuppression

Last updated 28 September 2022

People with a severely weakened immune system are eligible for a primary course of COVID vaccine and a booster. If you have a severely weakened immune system you will also be eligible for an autumn booster.

People aged 5 and over who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression are also eligible for an autumn booster. Please use the form at the bottom of the page if you are a household contact of someone with immunosuppression.

 

Severe Immunosuppression

Based on the latest UK national guidance set out in the "Green Book" (COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) the following individuals aged 16+ with severe immunosuppression were eligible for a spring booster:

  • Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression, patients undergoing radical radiotherapy, solid organ transplant recipients, bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients, HIV infection at all stages, multiple myeloma or genetic disorders affecting the immune system (e.g. IRAK-4, NEMO, complement disorder, SCID).
  • Individuals who are receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy including, but not limited to, anti-TNF, alemtuzumab, ofatumumab, rituximab, patients receiving protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors, and individuals treated with steroid sparing agents such as cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil.
  • Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for more than a month at a dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more per day for adults.
  • Anyone with a history of haematological malignancy, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
  • Those who require long term immunosuppressive treatment for conditions including, but not limited to, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, scleroderma and psoriasis.

The "Green Book" also includes detailed information about eligibility for people aged 12-15 with immunosuppression.

    Further information

    Household contacts of people with immunosuppression

    Please use the form below to request an autumn booster for someone aged 5+ who is a household contact of someone with immunosuppression. If the form is not visible below please visit https://forms.office.com/r/BCHNzkgTh7

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