Royal College of Anaesthetists and Association of Anaesthetists statement - Shielding Anaesthetists and Vaccination

 25 March 2021

In response to concern expressed by some members who are taking immunosuppressive drugs and have become aware that their antibody response to vaccination may be obtunded or absent because of the actions of these drugs, the Presidents of the Association of Anaesthetists and the Royal College of Anaesthetists wrote a letter to the Clinical Chair of the JCVI (Wei Shen Lim) and the NHS England Medical Director for Professional Leadership and Clinical Effectiveness (Celia Ingham-Clark) that requested guidance for this group of healthcare professionals. The day after this was sent, NHSEI’s Chief People Officer issued guidance to all Trusts on this matter, which was referred to in a reply to the Presidents from Ms Ingham Clark that was received yesterday. We provide copies of these three communications in the hope that they will help clinical managers support colleagues taking immunosuppressive drugs who have been shielding. 

ENDS