The Mail on Saturday can confirm that Covid-19 could have caused serious illness in hundreds of people most at-risk.

In the last two months, the number of weekly admissions in ICUs for some of the most fragile patients has increased by 50% across England and Wales.

This hugely disproportionate rise – compared with the rise in normal ICU admissions – has been blamed by campaigners and experts on the botched rollout of a third vaccine dose.

At present, approximately one-third of patients admitted to intensive care are suffering from conditions that affect the immune system. Two doses, however, of Covid vaccine provide inadequate protection against infection.

Some experts now fear that at-risk patients could have been killed by Covid if they didn’t get the third vaccine when promised.

Weekly admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) of some of the most vulnerable patients have risen by 50 per cent in the past two months across England, Wales and Northern Ireland (stock photo)

The number of patients admitted to ICUs every week by some of the nation’s most vulnerable patients in England, Wales, Northern Ireland has increased 50% over the past 2 months (stock photo).

Over the past two months The Mail on Sunday has published a number of reports warning of the major logistical failures that meant hundreds of thousands of the UK’s most vulnerable people – those with weakened immune systems caused by conditions such as blood cancer or who have had organ transplants – couldn’t get their third dose.

Known as a third ‘primary’ dose, it should be given to these patients eight weeks after their second dose, as many will have responded poorly to the first two jabs and do not have the necessary antibodies to fight off Covid.

In contrast, boosters should be administered approximately six months following the second injection.

Recent studies show more than half of patients who don’t produce protective antibodies after two jabs do after a third dose eight to 12 weeks later.

In September, the government promised that at least 500,000 patients with weak immune systems would be given their third dose before October 11.

However, surveys revealed that less than half of those who applied for one were granted. Furthermore, thousands of desperately needy people were incorrectly informed by NHS staff not to delay calling in to get a booster.

The shocking ICU figures come just a week after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that ‘too many’ people were in hospital with Covid because they had not gone to get their booster when it was offered.

However, vulnerable patients repeatedly stated to this newspaper that they were blocked from getting the crucial third injection.

The campaigners are now concerned that vulnerable patients will pay the ultimate cost of the botched rollout.

‘It’s been a complete shambles,’ said Gemma Peters, chief executive of the charity Blood Cancer UK.

‘It is very likely the rise in the proportion of intensive care admissions for Covid patients with blood cancer since mid-October is at least partly due to empty Government promises about giving a third jab to everyone in this group.

‘It is almost inevitable some people will have caught Covid and become seriously ill – maybe even died – as a result.’

Figures from the Intensive Care National Audit And Research Centre show that Covid-related ICU admissions for blood cancer patients rose from 20 each week at the end of September to 33 a week by early November – a jump of more than 50 per cent. ICU admissions declined initially, but then began to increase in recent weeks.

Covid admissions seem excessive considering that one in 130 is affected by blood cancer. In the same way, ICU admissions of transplant patients with Covid increased to 34 per week in early November from 20 to 25, as opposed to their usual 20 to 25.

Campaigners and experts agree that the biggest reason these figures are so high is due to vaccine delays.

‘We’re seeing more and more immuno-compromised patients being admitted to intensive care, despite having had two jabs,’ says Dr Ron Daniels, an intensive care consultant at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

‘By the time they end up here, their prospects are very bleak – at least half of them will die.’

Terrified patients – and their relatives – have told how they caught Covid waiting for the vaccine.

Janet Thompson (68), a double-vaccinated woman from Norwich fell ill soon after the announcement of the third vaccine. She lost her fight with Covid-19 after spending four weeks in hospital.

She had a rare condition called Good’s syndrome, which destroys the activity of the immune system. 

After being protected since the pandemic started, the ex-hospital receptionist went out into the fall to shop, where she contracted Covid. She was fighting for her own life in intensive care within weeks.

‘By the time people started getting their third dose, Janet had picked up the infection,’ says her elder sister Joan. ‘I am also immuno-compromised and it took two months to get my third dose, so I am sure she would have been waiting a long time. I often think, if she’d got her third jab, would she still be here?’

The Covid Fact

Patients who receive Covid from a transplant hospital can recover fully if they are injected with the blood of those who survived. 

Mark Smith, 49, a father-of-two from Harrogate, tested positive for Covid the day after finally receiving his third dose – before it had a chance to work.

After suffering from type 1 diabetes for over 25 years, Mark now works as a Kidney Care UK volunteer. He underwent a pancreas and kidney transplant in 2009.

Because he has to take drugs that stop his body rejecting organs donated, he runs a high risk for Covid infection. Mark called his GP as soon as the third vaccination was made public in September.

‘She knew absolutely nothing about it,’ he says. ‘So I contacted my consultant, who I see for my kidney care, and he said I would be notification in due course. Three weeks passed before I was finally able to make an appointment at the drop-in clinic.

‘And I am one of the lucky ones – I know a lot about the topic because of my work. If GPs don’t know about it, how are patients supposed to find out they need it?’

Mark experienced a dizziness, blinding headaches, nausea, and vomiting the day following his third dose. His lateral flow test came back positive, and he was able to confirm that he had contracted Covid.

‘I was out of action for a week,’ he adds. ‘I was terrified I would end up in hospital because I knew my chances of survival were pretty low.’

Mark has made steady improvements, but Mark fears that other kidney patients might not have the same luck. ‘Lots of people seem to think they just need the normal booster. Even more worrying, lots of doctors seem to think the same.’

Jason Green (a 42-year old plumber from Leicester) also contracted Covid. He was unable to get a third vaccine, even though he is at high risk. To treat ulcerative colitis (where the immune system creates painful inflammation of the bowel), he must take medication.

Although he received his second shot in April, he is still waiting to be offered a third. He caught Covid last week from his son. Now he is suffering severe breathing problems and hopes it doesn’t lead to him being admitted to intensive care.

He says: ‘I am outraged that I was not prioritised to receive a third dose. I was vaccinated nearly seven months ago – it’s very likely that I have very little immunity.’

Blood Cancer UK has asked Ministers for more protection, such as allowing access to monoclonal anti-inflammatory drugs (which can help weaken immune systems to Covid), to patients at high risk.

Ronapreve can treat and prevent the virus, although there is no information on its use for people at highest risk.

‘It is unclear when they will become available,’ says Gemma Peters. ‘Blood cancer patients are being left in the dark, once again.’

Last night NHS England told The Mail on Sunday that 72 per cent of immuno-compromised patients have now had a ‘third dose’ – but this figure includes patients who were not able to access their third primary dose and instead received a booster from a walk-in clinic.

What is the difference between psoriasis & eczema, you ask? 

Nearly 3 million UK residents suffer from psoriasis or eczema, which are skin problems that affect their skin.

Eczema can develop as a result of genetic conditions. However, psoriasis may occur later in life, either in adulthood or adolescence.

An overactive immune system can cause eczema, which causes skin to itch and flake. Stress, sunburn and infection can all contribute to psoriasis.

It is an autoimmune condition where the body’s defences attack healthy skin cells, causing itchy raised red patches covered with silvery scales, usually on the elbows or knees.