Help and Resources Covid resources and support Will aplastic anaemia patients be able to have the COVID vaccine? We understand that information about vaccines is really important to our community, so we’ve created this handy page to give you all of the latest information about COVID vaccines. We will be working closely with our clinical experts to update this information as things develop. Quick Links: Will it be safe for me to be vaccinated against COVID-19? What is the medical advice? How and when can I get my vaccine? UPDATE: Spring Booster vaccinations Will the Covid-19 vaccine work effectively for aplastic anaemia patients? Will it be safe for me to be vaccinated against Covid-19? Since December 2020, several have been approved for use in the UK by MHRA, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. The vaccines currently approved for use are Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Sanofi and GSK (VidPrevtyn Beta). In the majority of cases, people are vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. All of the vaccines which have been approved are 'inactivated', meaning that they do not contain a live form of the COVID-19 virus. This means that it is not possible to develop COVID-19 as a result of receiving the vaccine. During the approval process, MHRA deemed that all of the vaccines currently available are suitable and safe for people who are immunocompromised. We understand that for people with aplastic anaemia, there is a small risk of relapse associated with all vaccinations, and research is still ongoing into this. The general advice is that the benefit of being vaccinated against COVID-19 outweighs the risk associated with vaccination, however, you should discuss your own circumstances with your medical team. What is the medical advice? This guidance, provided by Professor Judith Marsh, Department of Haematological Medicine at King's College Hospital, on the advice that she and her colleagues at the British Society Haematology was published in 2021. At the time that this statement was released, no individuals with aplastic anaemia had been included in vaccine trials, and any references to the risk of relapse following vaccination relate to anecdotal reports of relapse following other vaccinations. There are case reports of AA developing post-vaccination, and of recovered AA patients relapsing following vaccine administration. The evidence for this is limited, but we do know that a viral response is likely to be an important trigger in the initial development of aplastic anaemia. In the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic, current ASH COVID-19 and AA guidance is that the risk versus benefit would favour vaccine administration, particularly in those with additional risks for severe COVID-19 disease (age, obesity, other comorbidities associated with increased risk). So far we do not have access to any data on how effective any of the vaccines in development are likely to be in immunosuppressed patients. Those patients within 6 months of ATG/CSA initiation are unlikely to mount an appropriate immune response to a vaccine. Those AA patients remaining on CSA more than 6-12 months post-ATG treatment may respond to a vaccine. Vaccinations may be given after thoroughly considering and balancing risk versus benefit. Post-transplantation AA patients should follow standard post-transplantation guidelines for vaccine administration. These will be updated regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines when they become available, extrapolating from recommendations for other vaccines. Since then, thousands of people with aplastic anaemia and other rare bone marrow failures have been vaccinated against Coronavirus, the vast majority of them without any ill effects. As a result, it is still recommended that you continue to take up the offer of any further Covid booster vaccinations that you are entitled to, as the benefits of being protected against Coronavirus far outweigh the risks associated with vaccination. How and when can I get my vaccine? - UPDATE: Spring Booster vaccinations As of April 2024, most people in the UK have now been fully vaccinated. As a result, booster vaccinations are currently only being offered to those who are at greatest risk of becoming seriously unwell with COVID, such as people with aplastic anaemia. In order to ensure that you have the best protections against COVID-19, people who are immunocompromised, including those living with aplastic anaemia are eligible for a further booster dose, knowns as the 'Spring Booster'. This will be available from mid April, and will run until the end of June. There are two different vaccines that you may be given, the Pfizer vaccine, and the Moderna vaccine. Both of these work in a similar way, and there is no particular preference to which vaccine you should have. The vaccines have been updated and developed to provide better protection to the most common variants that are currently circulating. Although the overall COVID-19 situation is much better than it was in the past, we still recommend that you take up the offer of an Spring Booster vaccine when it is offered to you, to ensure that you have the best protection. You may be invited by your GP or local health authority to receive your booster vaccination, however, it may also be possible for you to book an appointment yourself online, or visit a local pharmacy or walk in clinic. More information about the arrangements across the UK is available below. England - Book online via NHS Website Scotland - Invitation from NHS Scotland Wales - Invitation from your local Health Board Northern Ireland - Invitation from your GP, or visit a local community pharmacy Will the Covid-19 vaccine work effectively for aplastic anaemia patients? We are thrilled to announce that the results of Professor Hillmen's research into the efficacy of the Coronavirus vaccine for people with aplastic anaemia and PNH have now been released. Overall, whilst the research shows that people with AA and PNH usually do not mount a significant immune response after the first vaccination, the second vaccination is highly effective - with almost 100% of participants in the trial mounting a decent antibody response following the second vaccination - broadly similar to the response seen in healthy volunteers who took part in the trial. More information about the research is available here. Did we answer your questions? Our team are working hard to keep our Coronavirus Resources useful and up to date. If you have a question that isn't answered here, or you have an issue you would like our help with, please email us at [email protected] or call our helpline on +44 (0) 300 102 3202. Last updated: 15 April 2024 Manage Cookie Preferences