Some patients having impaired immune systems may have a low or absent antibody response after administration of two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, noted a UK study.

Experts suggest that booster shots may help some immunosuppressed individuals, including patients with vasculitis who are taking the anti-inflammatory medicine rituximab. The UK may soon begin offering vulnerable people a booster dose, but awaits recommendations from an independent advisory body - the JCVI. The Octave study is a part of the evidence that will help JCVI take the decision. The trial participants include patients with cancer, inflammatory arthritis, diseases of the kidney or liver and those having a stem cell transplant. Laboratory tests done on blood samples from 600 of these subjects indicate that 40% have a sub-optimal antibody response following two doses of either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Of these, 11% did not have any detectable antibodies four weeks following two vaccine doses. Several of these were patients with vasculitis taking rituximab. The findings have been published as a pre-print by The Lancet… (BBC, August 24, 2021)