Summary
It is particularly important that severely immunosuppressed people receive their booster given the new dominant Omicron variant. However, this is causing some difficulties as the system does not currently distinguish between a third primary dose and a booster.
This update from the Royal College of Physicians provides guidance for doctors on identifying severely immunosuppressed patients who are eligible for a booster vaccine, having already had a third primary dose.
Content
The update highlights that:
- there is no automatic recall for a 3-month booster built into the national digital system for patients who are severely immunosuppressed and would be receiving a fourth dose.
- at present, patients are unable to book a fourth dose via the national online booking systems, because the patient's data shows that a total of three doses have already been administered. The system classifies these patients as having 'received a booster'.
- severely immunosuppressed people will not be able to book their booster (fourth dose) three months after their last primary course dose using the NHS online booking system.
- these patients can present at 91 days post-third dose to GPs, pharmacies and services offering unbooked appointments (‘walk-in’ or ‘drop-in’ centres). Some evidence of need for the booster as a result of their high-risk status will be required.
It suggests that secondary care doctors will need to:
- communicate with their own high-risk specialty patient groups to ensure boosters are being taken up.
- ensure severely immunosuppressed patients have some ‘evidence of need’ for the fourth dose (previous letters issued on the need for third primary dose could be used).
Update on booster vaccinations for severely immunosuppressed people (22 December 2021)
https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/update-booster-vaccinations-severely-immunosuppressed-people
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