COVID vaccine update June 21:
In view of the recent increase in COVID infections in the UK we would like to issue a word of caution to red cell teams and to patients with haemoglobinopathies and inherited rare anaemias in the UK.
When we look at the patients who are admitted to hospital with COVID infections at the moment, these tend to be younger patients than were admitted during the first or second wave (70% of patients are aged less than 45). Of additional concern is the fact that very few patients being admitted to hospital have had their vaccines. We know that patients with haemoglobinopathies and rare inherited anaemia may be at increased risk of hospitalisation from COVID and we therefore urge you to book your first and second COVID vaccinations if you have not yet had them both. Please contact your local haematology team if you would like more information.