MDS UK Note (12th January 2022): We have now received confirmation that CMML patients on treatment are also eligible to receive the treatments below. Updated 7th January 2022 The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a ‘Rapid Policy Statement’ regarding ‘Neutralising monoclonal antibodies or antivirals for patients with COVID-19’, for both hospitalised and […]

A global vaccination drive against Covid-19 is underway, with governments, scientific experts, epidemiologists, and voluntary organisations all trying to get as many people immunised as possible. However, vaccine-hesitancy is still being noted among many people. So, the makers of the hit animated series Family Guy have produced a public service announcement and raise awareness about […]

King’s College Hospital has been monitoring 38 MDS patients, as part of the SOAP study. The study has been measuring how effective the vaccines are in blood cancer patients and, specifically in these MDS patients, as initial results shown that COVID-19 vaccines may not be as effective in these patients as in the general population.

The repercussions of the government’s decision to end the shielding programme for Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) people are severe and multi-facetted. Most of the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable group, such as, for example, blood cancer patients, are still at very high risk of contracting COVID-19, as early research has indicated that the vaccines may not be […]

The National COVID Cancer Survey is evaluating antibody tests in individuals with cancer.  This is Phase 1 of a large nationwide NHS England project. It will evaluate finger prick COVID antibody testing in 10,000 individuals with cancer. Who is currently eligible to enter this trial? If you live in England, have been diagnosed with cancer in […]

On the 19th of July we had an informative conversation with Dr Austin Kulasekararaj, Consultant Haematologist, King’s College Hospital, London, on issues and concerns around COVID-19 “Freedom Day” and the efficacy of the Covid vaccine for MDS patients. Watch the video and read the excerpts below. “Obviously today is a big day, it’s called Freedom […]

Following the announcement of the lifting in England of all COVID-19 restrictions from July 19th, the Government has issued new Guidance for people classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV), including all MDS patients. The full Guidance can be found here: Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 We continue […]

Full latest update online can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19 Below is the exact text provided by the government. Mainly, announcing that shielding is paused. However, we still advise to be extra cautious, whilst we wait for more robust results about the efficacy of the vaccines in blood cancer patients, and specifically MDS patients. The SOAP […]

Following news on the extremely rare risk of blood clots/thrombosis in patients who had the Astra Zeneca vaccine, we are posting several statements by the MHRA, JCVI and BSH on this topic. We have also asked a number of MDS experts, whether MDS patients should be concerned. The consensus from the MDS experts is that […]