I finished my Radiotherapy at the end of March 2023, and had my Covid booster in April 2023. My question is how vulnerable am I (if at all), and will my immune system be back to normal now? I can't work out if I will be invited for a booster/flu jab this time as they will begin in October 2023 and I will just be outside the 6 month timeline from March. I am 63 so under the age limit of 65.
Hi Joules
Thanks for this message to Ask A Nurse. My name is Debbie and I am one of the nurses on the Macmillan support line.
It is good to read that you have finished your treatment and I hope that you are recovering well. Radiotherapy can slightly reduce immunity for some time after the treatment but it would not normally reduce immunity to a level where you would be at risk of serious illness if you caught COVID or flu. The length of time that immunity is reduced and the level of the reduction varies from person to person. Your treatment team at the hospital are in the best position to advise you on your current level of immunity. They can take into account any other health conditions that you may have and any other medicines that you are taking. The team can refer you for a COVID booster if they feel that it would be helpful for you. There is information about who is eligible for a COVID booster on the UK government website.
The groups to be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine and flu vaccine in autumn 2023 are set out on the NHS England website. Both vaccines will be offered to people aged 65 years and over (or who would turn 65 by 31 March 2024) or who have low immunity due to health conditions or treatments. Health care workers and care workers are also eligible.
In your situation it looks as though you would not be in a group who should be offered the vaccines as part of the booster programme. However, your treatment team at the hospital can discuss this with you and refer you for the vaccines if they feel it would help you.
I hope that this information is reassuring but if you would like to discuss it further you are welcome to call our phone lines and speak to one of our nurses. The number to call is 0808 808 0000 and the lines are open from 8am to 8pm every day.
With best wishes
Debbie
Ref: DC/HB
