People with blood cancer now account for a higher proportion of coronaviruses deaths than earlier in the Pandemic, which has been accused of failing to protect the most vulnerable people.
With daily case numbers at record highs as a result of the Omicron variant, charities warn that people with immune suppressed systems who had been helped to shield at the start of the epidemic felt obliged to put themselves at risk at work, and less likely to have access to treatments.
According to an analysis of official data by Blood Cancer UK, more than 3,000 people with blood cancer have died in England and Wales. Patients have spent long periods shielding to avoid contact with the virus.
One in 23 Covid deaths between July and September were caused by people with blood cancer, compared with one in 45 deaths in the first three months of the year.
The increase was thought to be linked to the end of shielding and the fact that people with blood cancer are less likely to respond to vaccines. They called for financial help for those who can't work from home if they have a serious immune system condition.
Some sufferers have had difficulty getting a booster dose three months after their third vaccine dose, as they have been advised to do. There is confusion over how they can access the drugs that the government bought.
Blood Cancer UK is worried about what the rise of Omicron means for the community as there has been a shocking lack of messaging or advice about how to stay safe.
The government policy for times of the greatest danger seems to have gone from shielding the vulnerable to no protection at all. 3,101 people have already died of Covid and the government and the health service owe it to them to do a better job of protecting people with blood cancer.
They need to support people with blood cancer by giving them clear communications, easy access to booster doses, and financial support. This is the best way to save the lives of those who are most vulnerable to Covid, and we hope to see a sense of urgency in giving people the protection they need.
She advised anyone with blood cancer who tests positive for Covid after a test to contact their hospital treatment team. The distribution of limited antiviral drugs that could help the most vulnerable people has been set up by a new Covid medicines distribution unit.
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The roll out of Covid jabs in England was condemned asbolic.
The roll out of third covid-jabs-england-condemned-shambolic was published on theguardian.com.
Patients told the policy director at the hospital that they felt forgotten. There has been no additional information for people who are more at risk since shielding ended. A lack of clarity and lack of information may leave thousands of people unsure of what to do. It isn't good enough.
There can be coordination between the vaccines, treatment and information provided to keep half a million people safe if the minister is given responsibility for people who are immunocompromised. Someone in government should be responsible for these individuals because they feel like they are being ignored and let down.
A Department of Health and Social Care source said that on December 10, the National Health Service England wrote to specialists and doctors to invite patients who are eligible for a booster to get their vaccine.
The booster programme for the severely immunosuppressed cohort will continue to be shared and communications have already been sent to primary care, secondary care and 119.
