How does COVID-19 affect people with liver disease?
If your liver condition is at an early stage and your immune system is working normally then your risk from COVID-19 is thought to be the same as for anyone else.
But serious liver disease (cirrhosis) and some liver disease treatments can stop your immune system from working properly. This means that if you get COVID-19 you have a higher risk of:
- becoming seriously ill or dying
- needing to go to hospital for treatment
- taking a long time to recover
To prevent this, if you are at higher risk, you may be offered booster vaccines. You may also be able to get extra treatment if you get COVID-19.
Covid vaccines
Information updated: July 1st 2025
The NHS usually offers COVID-19 vaccines during booster campaigns in the autumn and spring.
The aim of the vaccine is to stop people at higher risk from becoming seriously ill. You might still get COVID-19 if you have had the vaccine. But you are less likely to need hospital treatment.
Who can have a COVID-19 vaccine?
Exactly who is offered the COVID-19 vaccine can be complicated. It often changes with each vaccine campaign.
For each booster campaign the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) looks at the latest research and recommends who should have the vaccine. If you think you might be eligible for the vaccine you can check with your GP, or hospital specialist.
For the Autumn 2025 campaign the JCVI has recommended that the vaccine is offered to:
- adults aged 75 years and over
- people living in a care home for older adults
- people aged 6 months to 74 years who have a weakened immune system due to a health condition or medical treatment
This included people who:
- have had a transplant
- are taking strong steroid medicines
- have had recent biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- are taking long term immunosuppressive medicines
These recommendations are similar to those for the Spring 2025 campaign. This means that some people who were offered the vaccine in Autumn 2024 will not be offered it in Autumn 2025.
When and how will I get the booster vaccine?
The 2025 COVID-19 spring vaccination campaign has now ended. We will update this page when we have information about the Autumn 2025 campaign.
Find more information about COVID-19 vaccines where you live:
Information about other vaccines if you have a liver condition.
COVID-19 vaccine FAQs
Is the vaccine offered to carers, close contacts, or health care professionals?
From autumn 2024 the government has not recommended that the vaccine is offered to carers, close contacts, or health care professionals.
Can I pay to get a COVID-19 vaccine privately?
If you are not offered a COVID-19 vaccine on the NHS you can now pay to have one. This is usually more expensive than a private flu vaccination.
If you would like a private COVID-19 vaccine speak to your pharmacist. They may be able to offer the vaccine or know where it is available in your area.
I have recently become immunosuppressed, do I need to wait for a booster campaign to get a vaccine?
Your specialist will talk with you about any vaccinations you need, including COVID-19. They can recommend you have the vaccine straight away, rather than wait for a campaign.
Testing and treatment for people at higher risk from COVID-19
Most people who get COVID-19 will be able to get better at home with medicines from a pharmacy.
People at higher risk are more likely to become seriously ill and need to go to hospital. To reduce this risk, you may be able to get medicines to help treat the virus.
These medicines work best in the first few days of having the virus. So it is important to be able to act quickly.
Before you get COVID-19:
- Find out if you are eligible for treatments. See the list below for guidance and talk to your medical team for personal advice.
- Keep some tests at home. You may be able to get these free from a pharmacy. Find out more about getting free COVID-19 tests here.
- Find out how to report test results in your area.
Who is at higher risk?
Information updated: June 2025
This list is just for guidance. It is based on information from NICE. It is not the same as the list used for offering COVID-19 vaccines. The list can change over time as we learn more about the virus.
For adults and children over 12, you may be at higher risk if:
You have liver cancer:
- Your cancer has spread to other parts of your body and cannot be cured with an operation.
- You have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the last 12 months.
- You have had an operation to remove your cancer in the last 3 months and did not have any radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
- You might be told that you have a slightly increased risk for up to 12 months after your cancer operation.
You have cirrhosis:
- You have been diagnosed with cirrhosis.
- Your risk will be higher if you have decompensated cirrhosis
You have had a liver transplant
- If you have ever had a liver transplant
You take immunosuppressant medicines:
- You take any medicines that stop your immune system working properly. Even if your liver condition is at an early stage.
Reporting your result and getting treatment
You will need to report your test results within 5 days of starting to get symptoms.
Find out more about how to report your test result and get treatment in:
Treatment is usually tablets that you take at home. In some cases the medicine is given as a drip at a hospital or local clinic.
When you report your test result you will be asked questions about your health. These help the medical team work out which treatment is best for you.
Find out more about different treatments for COVID-19 on the NHS website.
Special thanks
We would like to thank Professor Stephen Ryder, consultant hepatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust for reviewing this page.
This page was last updated: 01/07/2025
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