Coronavirus: Vaccination

(asked on 1st July 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to make post-covid-19 vaccination screening available to patients who were prescribed anti-TNF medication to ascertain whether those patients have developed a suitable response to the vaccine.


Answered by
Nadhim Zahawi Portrait
Nadhim Zahawi
This question was answered on 12th July 2021

For patients on immunosuppressive treatment such as anti-tumour necrosis factor medication, all vaccines should offer some level of protection. Post-vaccination testing may be considered, though it should be noted that low or absent antibody levels does not mean a vaccinated immunosuppressed patient has no protection.

As there is limited evidence on the immune response generated by COVID-19 vaccine in immunocompromised individuals, it is too early to assess what additional approaches, if any are needed to best support this group. The OCTAVE study will examine the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in clinically at-risk groups. Results of the study are expected shortly.

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