A coalition of charities is calling on employers to put measures in place for staff likely to have reduced protection from the Covid-19 vaccine.

The 18 organisations, including Blood Cancer UK, Kidney Care UK, Crohn’s & Colitis UK and the MS Society, said despite the success of the rollout of jabs there is growing evidence that vaccines give less protection to people who have a weakened immune response due to a specific health condition.

Individual Covid-19 risk assessments should be offered to employees most at risk as well as flexibility to avoid peak time travel on public transport, said the charities.

Those most at risk should be allowed to continue working from home where possible, it was urged.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Fiona Loud, policy director at Kidney Care UK, said: “With many companies expecting their workforce to return to offices this month action must be taken to ensure that people who are not fully protected by the vaccine are supported at work.

“People are keen to get back to their usual activities but to be safe while doing so, which is why it is so important that comprehensive and individual risk assessments are carried out.

“As soon as lockdown restrictions started to lift at the end of March employers have been asking their staff to return to the workplace.

“This has left many of those who have been shielding for over a year and who have been warned by doctors that the vaccine may give them less protection, feeling incredibly anxious.”