Immunosuppression and the Spring Booster

Last updated 1 July 2022

The spring booster programme has now ended. 

If you were not able to attend your spring booster appointment in June because you were unwell, you had recent COVID infection, or you could not receive the COVID vaccine because of your treatment then please contact our booking hub on 01874 442510 or powys.covidvacc@wales.nhs.uk and we may be able to offer you an appointment until 21 July 2022.

Some people aged 12+ with severe immunosuppression are eligible for a spring booster in 2022.

The spring booster was also available to everyone aged 75+ and to residents of care homes for older adults.

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.

NHS Wales and hospital specialists identified eligible individuals based on patient records and we invite citizens who were identified through this process. We also put in place a self-identification process for people who may have been missed by this national review.

You can find out more about how we process your information from the Privacy section of our website.