13 December 2022
There are currently no coronavirus restrictions in the UK, but thousands of people in the UK still test positive every month. If you or a loved one have MS, you may be unsure how to best keep yourselves safe while being able to carry on with everyday life.
People with MS have the same risk of catching Covid-19 as anyone else. However, as with other infections, Covid-19 may lead to a temporary worsening of your MS symptoms. Also, some drugs used in MS, including steroids or certain disease modifying drugs may suppress your immune system and make you potentially more vulnerable to severe infection with Covid-19.
Throughout the pandemic, we have kept our general information page on Covid-19 and MS, and our page on covid vaccines and treatments up to date, but here is a brief round-up of the current situation and guidance:
In all four UK nations, between 1% and 2% of the population are currently testing positive for Covid-19 each week. Infection rates have fluctuated, but this is relatively low compared with peaks earlier in the year where around 8% of the population were affected.
Most Covid-19 infections currently involve the Omicron variant. After some initial concern, recent evidence has shown that Covid-19 test kits are effective at detecting Omicron, so there is still value in carrying out a home test if you are concerned that you're experiencing symptoms of Covid-19.
If you're concerned, you might choose to protect yourself and others from Covid-19 infection by wearing a face covering, avoiding crowded places and making sure that indoor spaces are well ventilated. Frequent hand washing and other similar hygiene measures are also recommended and will also protect you from other infections such as colds and flu.
During cold weather, opening a window may not be practical as it can be costly in terms of the energy needed to heat your surroundings. Consider opening the window for short periods, up to 10 minutes in an hour, to encourage air flow rather than leaving windows open for a longer time.
Everyone with MS is entitled to have had two primary doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, plus a booster three months after the second dose. People who had a weakened immune system at the time of their first or second dose of vaccine may have been offered an additional primary dose (3rd dose) before they had their booster.
In 2022, an autumn Covid-19 vaccine booster is also available for anyone with MS, as well as people over 50, and those who are carers or health care workers. You may be able to get this at the same time as your flu jab. Most people who are eligible for the autumn booster should have been contacted directly by the NHS.
You can read more about Covid-19 vaccines and boosters for people with MS.
You can book your vaccines and boosters online with the NHS.
If you have MS, you may be eligible to receive antiviral medication if you test positive for Covid-19. Antiviral medication can be given as an infusion in hospital or as pills. These treatments can help reduce your risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19.
In order to get these treatments, you will need to order some free rapid lateral flow test kits to keep at home. If you take a test, you need to report the result online. If you cannot use the online service, you can call 119 to order or report a test result.
You can find out more about Covid-19 treatments on this NHS website.
Some people are still choosing to take extra care to reduce the risk of infection, including continuing to shield themselves from interaction with people outside their household. For most people with MS, this is not advised. Knowledge has improved over the course of the pandemic about how best to treat Covid-19 infections. Also, vaccination provides protection against infection and against severe outcomes if you are infected. However, some people who are strongly immunosuppressed may not make an effective response to vaccines.
Having MS is only one risk factor for severe outcome with a Covid-19 infection. Older age, male gender, South Asian ethnic origin or having other underlying health conditions may be more important when thinking about your personal risk of a severe Covid-19 infection.
People with MS who have had Covid-19 have generally had better outcomes than health professionals expected at the start of the pandemic. With antiviral treatment available, your MS team may now be less concerned about the risks to your health from Covid-19 infection. However, social distancing and other interventions during the pandemic cut many people off from their emotional and support systems, so health professionals may now be more concerned about the risks to both your mental and physical health arising from isolation or inactivity if you choose to shield.
Continue to use face coverings and caution. But go to your yoga class!
MS Trust Advisory Board
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