COVID vaccine will be "amazing" for health and well-being of transplant patients in Leeds says hospital consultant

For months patients waiting for an organ donation, or recipients who are recovering post operation have been confined to their homes and scared to go out in case they caught the virus and were unable to fight it off because of a diminished immune system.

It has also led to people being confined indoors and unable to partake in physical excercise, which, has been cited as crucial to the recovery chances of transplant patients.

Dr Mark Aldersley who is the St James University Hospital lead clinician and Consultant Hepatologist said: "It is amazing. The amount of risks is unique which is why they have managed to get the vaccine available as quickly as they have. All we can do is strongly encourage people to have it. There is no plan to enforce, that is an ethics debate to be had, but I would strongly encourage people to have the vaccine to reduce the risks."

He said it would give recovering patients the confidence to go outside and take excercise with many struggling to keep active at home and gaining weight.

"If you can get transplant recipients vaccinated that would be great, they are in the fourth tranch of the government list but once they are vaccinated they can start to participate more. The majority of sports you can train individually or socially distanced like running or cycling. There are even sports, like golf, where you can play socially-distanced."

It comes as the city of Leeds prepares to host the British Transplant Games in 2021 and the Yorkshire Evening Post are media partners.

Over a period of four days, more than 850 transplant recipients representing teams from hospitals across the country, take part in more than 24 sporting events. The Games are organised on behalf of Transplant Sport whose aim is to raise awareness of the need for organ donation, encourage transplant recipients to lead active lifestyles and show appreciation for donors and families.

On the walls of transplant wards there are pictures of transplant recipients taking part to inspire and encourage current patients.

Dr Aldersley added: "It is not for everybody. You will not get somebody who has never done exercise being converted to an athlete - but we do try."

The first vaccine was administered last week and 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be dispensed in the coming weeks with up to four million more expected by the end of the month.

Hubs in the UK are starting the rollout by vaccinating the over-80s and some health and care staff.

The UK has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer jab, enough to vaccinate 20 million people as patients need to receive two doses but the public has been reminded that as the Pfizer vaccine rollout continues, most people will not get the jab until next year and must stick to the rules to slow the spread of the virus in the meantime.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said "we will not have sufficient protection" from the virus over the next few months through the vaccine programme and urged people to follow the rules in their area.

More hospitals across England will see a rollout of the Pfizer vaccine soon, with plans for jabs at GP-led sites next week and in care homes by Christmas.

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