Medical News Updates Archives - Page 2 of 2

The Melody Study; assessing antibody responses.

“The MELODY Study”

Some exciting news for liver patients about a new study starting today.

The MELODY Study aims to assess antibody responses following three Covid-19 vaccine doses in immunocompromised people. It will include people who have received solid organ transplants, people with rare autoimmune diseases receiving immunosuppression and people who had a diagnosis of blood cancer. It aims to recruit 12,000 solid organ transplant patients.

For more information, and to register, go to www.melodystudy.org

The Melody Study; assessing antibody responses.Arthur Goan2021-12-08T16:46:50+00:00

* 3rd Primary Jab Update from RVH Liver Unit *

The Liver Unit understands the anxiety of patients and their families regarding the current vaccination programme and terminology being used.

The Chief Medical Officer of NI has adopted the JCVI advice which is very clear that the current vaccinations for transplant recipients and other severely immunosuppressed individuals are THIRD PRIMARY DOSES and not booster doses (regardless of what has been told to patients in letters or verbally up to this point).

The Liver Unit staff are simply passing on the chief medical officer/JCVI advice. The Liver Unit strongly recommend following the instructions in the letter they have issued to patients to book your third primary dose.

Please do NOT contact the Liver Unit to seek approval on an alternative pathway to vaccination as the staff will be unable to give alternative advice.

For the small number of patients who were initially told they were given a ‘booster’ dose in September, please be reassured the vaccine you have been administered is considered your third primary dose and you will not be disadvantaged when booster doses are rolled out in future. You do NOT need a fourth vaccination dose at this stage and should not seek to book a further vaccination with the letter received recently from the liver unit.

Please keep the letters you have recently been issued as these will likely be required to facilitate booster doses in approximately 6 months when details have been confirmed by JCVI/government.

*** 3rd Primary Jab Update from RVH Liver Unit ***Arthur Goan2021-10-23T14:22:58+01:00

* IMPORTANT VACCINATION UPDATE *

Covid-19 Corona Virus 2019-ncov vaccine vials medicine drug bottles syringe injection blue nitrile surgical gloves. Vaccination, immunization, treatment to cure Covid 19 Corona Virus infection Concept

The JCVI have recommended a “third primary dose” of COVID-19 vaccination for immunocompromised patients including liver transplant recipients. This is NOT a booster dose and JCVI will define arrangements for boosters at a later stage.

Transplant patients who were administered both doses of COVID-19 vaccination pre-transplant DO NOT require a third dose.

Patients may use the following link to book a vaccination appointment – https://vaccinations.covid-19.hscni.net/booking

The Liver Unit secretaries are currently issuing letters of eligibility for liver transplant recipients and you should expect to receive these in the post in the coming days. If you secure an appointment for vaccination but are not in receipt of an eligibility letter by the time of your appointment, please contact the Liver Unit secretaries. It may be best to select a vaccination date in at least a week’s time to allow time for your eligibility letter to arrive by post.

Vaccination Centres offered include the 7 Towers Leisure Centre Ballymena, SWAH Enniskillen, Altnagelvin Hospital and Tyrone & Fermanagh Hospital in Omagh. The RVH Vaccination Centre is not offered.

*** IMPORTANT VACCINATION UPDATE ***Arthur Goan2021-10-23T14:27:34+01:00

New Hepatology Specialist Nurse appointed.

Fred McDermott, one of the transplant co-ordinators in the RVH, has left his post and decided upon a new career move. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Fred for his invaluable work over the years both to the hospital and the many liver patients with whom he came in to contact.

Veronica Craig has been appointed as a Hepatology Specialist Nurse and is assisting Tomas Doherty with the transplant co-ordinator role until Fred is replaced; we wish her well in this new temporary placement.

New Hepatology Specialist Nurse appointed.fmccann2021-06-19T11:56:27+01:00