Testing the effectiveness of vaccines in transplant patients
There has been much talk by clinicians and with the press about the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines in immunocompromised patients. This in particular applies to transplant patients who take immunosuppression medication to prevent the rejection of their donor organ(s). The Melody study, led by Imperial College is attempting to help answer the question of how effective they are. If you are a transplant patient and have received 2 or more doses of the vaccine then you can participate in this important study. Please find details below.
Mass evaluation of lateral flow immunoassays (at home finger prick blood tests) to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in immunocompromised patients.
The MELODY Study
Dear Transplant recipient,
If you are aged 18 years or over, and have had or are about to have your third COVID-19 vaccine, we would like to invite you to participate in the MELODY Study, a new study which aims to:
1. Assess antibody responses following three COVID-19 vaccine doses in 36,000 immunocompromised people using a finger prick testing kit which we send to your home.
2. Investigate the correlation between antibodies post vaccination, with risk of infection over a 6-month period.
3. Investigate what factors are associated with non-response to vaccine in immunocompromised people, e.g. the type of immunosuppressant medication you receive. This will be determined by asking you to complete an online questionnaire with your antibody results.
There will be a 3-step process, involving registration via an online portal for which you will need your NHS/CHI number available:
With your consent, we would then capture any infection episodes which occur by linking with the national COVID-19 infection registry.
To take part, please go to:
| Participate in study |
To find out more about the study, go to: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/research-and-impact/groups/melody-study/ or call the FREEPHONE number 0800 819 9150.
The patient information sheet with a Q&A can be found here.
V1.1/28.11.2021 (IRAS: 306710)
