Patients with blood disease well protected with extra covid vaccination

Patients with a blood disease, such as leukemia or lymphoma, still build up good defenses against the coronavirus after a third covid vaccination. This is demonstrated by researchers from Amsterdam UMC together with Erasmus MC and UMC Groningen. Haematologist Mette Hazenberg: “We saw that many patients with a haematological disorder achieve just as good antibody concentrations after a third injection as healthy adults after two vaccinations.” The results of the study were published today in JAMA Oncology.

The study provides the hitherto lacking evidence that for patients with blood disorders the basic vaccination series should consist of three instead of two mRNA vaccinations. Previously, it was unknown whether people with an underlying haematological disease would benefit from vaccination. They have a less good immune system due to the disease itself and its treatment. “That a large proportion of patients with an extra vaccination still build up sufficient immunity is good news,” says Hazenberg. The study, called COBRA KAI and funded by ZonMW, was set up in February 2021 and is being conducted among more than 700 patients.

Fourth and fifth vaccination

Patients now have a 4^e and even a 5^e got shot. Partly in view of the good results after the 3^e Vaccination is also advised to patients with a poor immune system to take these extra vaccinations. The effects of this on the immune system are currently being investigated within the COBRA KAI study.

Mouth-nose mask and wash hands

The study also shows that a group of patients still build up less good or even insufficient protection against the coronavirus, despite the extra vaccination. “We are gaining a better understanding of patients for whom obtaining a good immune system remains a problem. The repeat injections may still have a protective effect, which remains to be seen. But for these patients, the use of a mouth-nose mask, ventilation and hygiene rules remain the most important way to prevent them from contracting the corona virus,” says co-researcher internist-haematologist Inger Nijhof. “Should these patients still get Covid-19, treatments with antibody therapy or virus inhibitors may work for them.”

Read the article here.

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