Booster Covid vaccination for patients on Immunosuppression (5th dose)

We have had a number of calls to the practice from patients who are on immune suppression for their underlying rheumatologic condition who have been offered a second booster COVID-19 vaccination ie a 5th dose of vaccine.

At present, the current HSE guidelines suggest a second booster vaccine for patients who are immunosuppressed but further define it is those patients who are on a drug called rituximab or those patients who are on high doses of steroids (in excess of 40 mg of prednisolone/deltacortril).

This is because patients on rituximab and high-dose steroids may respond less well to vaccination than other patients.

If you are on a different form of immunosuppressive therapy, you may also have been contacted to offer you a booster vaccine, but strictly speaking (according to HSE guidelines) this should not be necessary.

Nonetheless, it should be safe for you to receive a second booster vaccine either when offered, or as some patients have opted for, later in the autumn when the numbers of COVID-19 might rise again.

Please check the HSE website for updates.