No clear agreement on vaccine effectiveness in immunosuppressed groups

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NO LONGER RELEVANT AND IS NOT BEING UPDATED BUT HAS BEEN LEFT ON THE SITE FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY

This information is sourced from a PHE press release,  The PHE Greenbook and the CDC:

Vaccine effectiveness in people who are immunosuppressed

• On 1st July the PHE Greenbook advised clinicians that individuals with immunosuppression may not make a full immune response to vaccination
• PHE issued a press release on 9th July 2021, based on evidence from a study (yet to be peer reviewed) which stated ”The Covid-19 vaccines used in the UK are as effective at preventing symptomatic disease in the majority of people with underlying health conditions compared to the rest of the population. For those who are immunosuppressed, first dose vaccine provides 4% effectiveness, second dose effectiveness is 74%”
• A cautionary note has been provided by Blood Cancer UK and Kidney Care UK, which state these average effectiveness results cannot be assumed to be applicable to all immunocompromised groups and that more research is needed
• On 16th July the CDC advised immunosuppressed groups that ” If you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may NOT be protected even if you are fully vaccinated. You should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people”

Written by Dr Poppy Freeman

See Also: Covid variants and vaccine effectiveness