COVID-19 vaccines and immunodeficiency

On this webpage you will find information and FAQs about COVID-19 vaccines.

Autumn boosters in 2023 (updated 1st September 2023)

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has announced its advice regarding persons who will be eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccine in autumn 2023.

Household contacts of people who have weakened immune systems (referred to as 'immunosuppressed people') are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. 

The JCVI has advised that the autumn programme should aim to complete vaccinations by early December 2023.

Those eligible for an Autumn 2023 booster are:

  • all adults aged 65 years and over
  • residents in a care home for older adults
  • people aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book (this includes people with weakened immune systems or who are taking medicines to suppress their immune system). Cohorts are defined in Table 3 (page 19) and Table 4 (page 26) in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book .
  • people aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
  • frontline health and social care workers
  • people aged 16 to 64 who are carers, and staff working in care homes for older adults.

The government has not announced which vaccines will be used yet. We will update this page when we have more details.

Autumn booster dates and access

The following dates have been announced for the Autumn booster programme:

England - From 11th September 2023, COVID-19 and flu vaccinations will start for those eligible via Local Booking Systems (LBS), starting with those most at risk, including people with weakened immune system.

On the 18th September 2023, the National Booking System (NBS) will be available to allow eligible people to book a COVID-19 vaccination online (using NHS.uk), via the NHS App or by calling 119.

Information should be posted at
https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccination-programme/

England recommends people should be offered flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at the same time, although this likely to be dependent on the capacity of local services.

Scotland - Over 50s will receive a flu jab in Scotland, compared to only over 65s in England. Flu jabs for 50-64 year olds will start from 4 September. People aged 65-74 years of age with no underlying conditions and those aged 12-64 years in a clinical risk group (excluding those with a weakened immune system), will be invited for both jabs, with appointments starting from 18 September. All other groups will follow from mid-October.

People should wait to be invited or prompted to book their jab(s) by NHS Scotland.

Details will be posted at The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine | NHS inform . 

Wales - the autumn booster programme started on 11 September. Vaccinations for flu and COVID-19 are to be rolled out to over 65s, at risk groups and those working or living with vulnerable people. All eligible individuals should receive an appointment invitation from their local health board. COVID-19 vaccination programme | GOV.WALES

Northern Ireland - the autumn booster programme began on 18 September, starting with residents in care homes. Details will be posted at Get a COVID-19 vaccination in Northern Ireland | nidirect.

Shorten your booster wait

We know some people are worried about attending busy vaccination centres for their COVID-19 vaccines. The NHS in England have produced this poster, clarifying that you can be fast-tracked if you are immunosuppressed, so you don't have to wait in a busy queue. You may want to print this out and take it to your vaccination centre, to help you ask for the extra protection.

How many doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have people with weakened immune systems been offered?

The COVID-19 vaccine schedule for eligible groups has been:

  • 1st primary dose, from around Jan 2021
  • 2nd primary dose,  from around April 2021
  • 3rd primary dose, from around September 2021
  • 4th dose (1st booster), from around January 2022
  • 5th dose (Spring 2022 booster), from around April 2022
  • 6th dose (Autumn 2022 booster), from around September 2022
  • 7th dose (Spring 2023 booster), from around April 2023

Regardless of how many doses you've had so far, Immunodeficiency UK advises you should get your booster doses when they are offered.

Useful links

Visit Covid autumn booster vaccine 2023: Everything you need to know - Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre (blog.gov.uk) for the DHSC Q&A factsheet.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Do I have a choice about what COVID vaccine I'll receive?
A. The vaccine you will be offered will be dependent largely on the supplies available from the manufacturers and the logistics of the roll out of the COVID vaccine programme.

Q. What do I need to bring with me to the vaccination centre?

A. If you are taking medication, please bring a list of these with you to the vaccination centre. Do not bring the medicines themselves. If you are taking a blood thinner called 'warfarin' you will also be going for regular blood tests to monitor the thickness of your blood using a test called INR. The INR test result is a number (for example 2.5). Please make sure you know your latest INR reading and when that was last checked.  If you don't know this, you can get if from your GP surgery.

Q. Are there any side effects from having a COVID vaccination?
A. Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. Most of these are mild and short-term, lasting no longer than a week, and not everyone gets them. These may include: a sore arm where the needle went in; feeling tired; a headache; feeling achy; feeling or being sick.

You can take painkillers, such as paracetamol, if you need to. If you have a high temperature, you may have coronavirus or another infection. If your symptoms get worse or you are worried, call 111.

Read about the coronavirus vaccines at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

You can report side effects at Yellow Card Scheme - MHRA.

Q.  Is the Autumn booster programme available to extended family members of people who are immunocompromised such as my wife and young daughter?

A. For the Autumn 2023 booster programme there is an extension of the vaccination programme to household members.

Q. After I have had my booster dose will I get to know if I have made a better immune response?

A. If you are participating in a research study you may in time get to know this, but, at the moment, there is unlikely to be mass testing to determine benefit.

Q. When should I have my next vaccination if I have had COVID and received either monoclonal or antiviral treatments?

A. Patients should always seek personalised medical advice from their healthcare professionals and clearly inform the vaccine centre about their COVID-19 infection and any treatment that was given to treat the infection. For adults no specific period is mandated, however in general terms a minimum of clinical recovery to up to 4 weeks after a positive test is advised. This advice does not replace the need to obtain specific guidance from a healthcare professional with access to your full patient history. The guidance for children is different to adults and longer periods are advised between infection and vaccination (8-12 weeks).

Q. How safe are the vaccines and who will monitor their safety?
A. All vaccines undergo extensive safety testing and must meet exacting standards to progress through the different stages of clinical trials. Their use must be approved and licensed before their use through expert review of all trial data through the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). They check that the trial meets the necessary efficacy and safety levels. You can find out more about this process at http://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vaccine-development

Q. How is the safety of the vaccines monitored after vaccination programmes?
A. The safety of the vaccines will be monitored on an ongoing basis, as with all licensed drugs. This is undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) through the Yellow Card Scheme. Reports of suspected side effects are sent to the MHRA by drug companies (who are obliged to pass on any reports of suspected side effects that are defined as serious), health professionals, and patients themselves.

The data are evaluated each week, and the reported side effects are compared against the expected side effects as detailed in the information sheet for the vaccine. If a previously unidentified reaction emerges, or the frequency of reactions is not in line with what is expected, then the MHRA will investigate carefully. What happens next depends on the kind of side effect identified, but options include insisting that details of the new side effect are given in the product information leaflet or giving out warnings identifying groups of patients who should not be given the vaccine. In rare circumstances, the vaccine may be withdrawn from use.

Q. Can I catch COVID from the vaccines?
A. You cannot catch COVID from the vaccines. But it is possible to have caught COVID and not realise you have the symptoms until after your vaccination appointment. If you have any of the symptoms of COVID, stay at home and arrange to have a test.  If you need more information on symptoms visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-COVID-19/symptoms/

Q. Can I be vaccinated if I have had a severe allergy?
A. The Pfizer vaccine is not recommended for people who have had anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) to drugs or vaccines.  It is still recommended when there is a history of allergy without anaphylaxis, but this would be discussed with you.  Every person attending for vaccination will be asked. You will be given an alternative vaccine.

Q. Do I need to be registered with a GP to get the vaccine?
A. To get the vaccine, you will need to be registered with a GP surgery. If you aren't you will have to get registered or wait until the vaccine is offered more widely at other locations.

Q. Can I have pay for a private COVID vaccination?
A. At the moment COVID vaccines are only available through the NHS.

Q. Do allergic reactions to vaccines usually occur? 
A. The Department of Health (DOH) green book (the DOH vaccine reference book) gives the following statement:

'Anaphylaxis
Anaphylactic [severe allergic] reactions to vaccines are extremely rare but have the potential to be fatal. Between 1997 and 2003, there were 130 reports to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of anaphylaxis or
anaphylactic-type reactions following immunisation (excluding the meningitis C campaign), although no deaths as a result of the reaction were reported. In that time, around 117 million doses of all vaccines were supplied to hospitals and GPs.
This rate (approximately one per million vaccine doses) is similar to that reported from other countries (Bohlke et al., 2003; Canadian Medical Association, 2002).'

Other reactions are non-anaphylactic vaccine events and they are more common, but can usually be managed with antihistamines or will go of their own accord.

If you have concerns discuss the issue with your health team.

Q. Who decides on the priority list for a COVID vaccination programme?
A. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provides advice to the Government about this. They examine data on who suffers the worst outcomes from coronavirus and who is at highest risk of death. 

Q. How can I find out more about the development of COVID vaccines and vaccination programmes?
A. These websites may be helpful:
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news/how-can-we-develop-covid-19-vaccine-quickly
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/covid-19/gp-practices/covid-19-vaccination-programme

Q. What are RNA vaccines and how are they different from 'conventional' vaccines?
A. RNA is an abbreviation for ribonucleic acid. mRNA acts as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA to make proteins. Traditional virus vaccines use actual viruses that are weakened so they do not harm people and have to be grown in chicken eggs; a process that can take many months.  By contrast, the COVID-19 RNA vaccines delivers part of the virus genetic coding for the 'spike' protein. This RNA is then coated in a lipid so it can enter the body's cells and this is injected into the patient. The RNA vaccine then enters the cells and instructs them to produce the COVID spike protein. This prompts the immune system to produce antibodies and activate T cells to destroy infected cells.

RNA based vaccines are easier and faster to develop, once scientists have the genetic sequence of the protein they want to create.  Protein based vaccines are harder to manufacture but many successful vaccines have been produced in this way, e.g. Hepatitis B and some flu vaccines use this method.

Q. Have any of the vaccine trials involved people with immunodeficiency?
A. We do not know precisely the mix of people who have taken part in the clinical trials but patients who are immunocompromised would not be eligible to take part in a vaccine trial in the way that they are conventionally set up. 

Q.  I have selective IgA deficiency (IgAD). Will the COVID vaccines work for me?
A. The currently available vaccines produce a protective IgG response against COVID-19, so IgAD should not affect protection. As yet we do not know if vaccine induced IgA responses provide additional protection in COVID but we hope that data will follow from the COV-AD study (see 'Study starts to look at COVID vaccine responses in patients affected by primary and secondary antibody deficiency'), which measures responses to IgG/A/M in patients with immune deficiency of all types receiving vaccination. We do know that males with the primary immunodeficiency XLA, who never make any IgA or IgM, and who are on lifelong IgG replacement only, are very well served by IgG protection only, suggesting that IgA is redundant in the immune system for most people.

Q. I have CVID, and since many other immunodeficient patients don't develop antibodies to vaccines and have poor T cell responses why are you encouraging people to have the vaccine when available?
A. Taking flu as an example, unfortunately we don't have routine antibody tests or T-cell function tests to see if patients have responded to vaccination given in the clinic and we suspect that many will not.  We do know the licenced vaccines are safe. We also know that those with poorer immunity such as the elderly can make a useful response. If patients might derive even a tiny amount of protection from a safe vaccine, many doctors think that is a worthwhile balance, given that influenza like COVID can result in deaths. The exception to this is we do not recommend live vaccine in many children with more significant PID.

The community can do its bit to encourage friends and family to have an approved COVID vaccination. This will help protect those who don't have immunity to COVID-19 infection.

Q. Will people with antibody deficiency get any direct benefit from having a vaccination?
A. This remains unclear and until we know most doctors are likely to give the same advice as flu-vaccine, if it gives even a tiny benefit from T-cell responses to reduce either the risk of infection or to make the illness less severe then as long as it has been licenced and is safe, then antibody deficient patients should consider having it.  We should also acknowledge that some people with e.g. specific antibody deficiency may make a good response to COVID vaccines, just as they might to tetanus but not to e.g. pneumococcus.

Updated August 2023