Covid vaccine & anticoagulants? - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

32,401 members38,735 posts

Covid vaccine & anticoagulants?

Cat04 profile image
35 Replies

Can you have the covid vaccine if you are on anticoagulants?

General recommendations, second para refers.

Written by
Cat04 profile image
Cat04
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
35 Replies
buddy2blue profile image
buddy2blue

I really hope so

Cat04 profile image
Cat04 in reply tobuddy2blue

It rules a lot of us out if not 😕

buddy2blue profile image
buddy2blue in reply toCat04

It will. I really hope we can have it I honestly don’t know how I’ll cope if I can’t.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

This is really old news now and there are loads of posts on this . There is no difference between having covid vaccine and ordinary flu vaccine. The only concern is bruising from the intramuscle injection.

Cat04 profile image
Cat04 in reply toBobD

I tried a search & nothing came up on HU, maybe it's just me not being able to find it. This is on my GPs f/b page so should it just be dismissed BobD Not able to contact GP as all calls banned except urgent/emergency whilst vaccine is being administered.

Cat04 profile image
Cat04 in reply toBobD

Not so old - Gov.uk dated 10 DEC 2020 Para 4.4 refers

gov.uk/government/publicati...

DevonHubby1 profile image
DevonHubby1 in reply toCat04

Hi, I dont think BobD was being dismissive. There were multiple threads discussing this early last week after a comment on the Andrew Marr show about people on anti coagulants.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply toDevonHubby1

Bob has come under a bit of stick as HU & AA don’t want threads on COVID or the vaccine as some threads ended in tears taking up a lot of staff time so let’s please keep this one none controversial.

buddy2blue profile image
buddy2blue

Well i’ve just read that if your INR is in range then it’s perfectly safe to have the Covid jab

Cat04 profile image
Cat04 in reply tobuddy2blue

That's what I saw on BHF site 😊

Bolander profile image
Bolander in reply tobuddy2blue

When I had the Pfizer vaccine on Saturday at the Royal Free I told the doctor that my INR when tested that Monday was in the 2 to 3 range, and she was quite happy for the injection to go ahead. She warned me there might be bruising at the site, but as it turned out there was none. The only side effect was feeling sleepy about two hours afterwards, but this only later that passed.

Cha275rL profile image
Cha275rL in reply tobuddy2blue

Can you tell me what INR stands for@buddy2blue please? Not been on this site long, so lots of things I still don’t know.

Belle11 profile image
Belle11 in reply toCha275rL

From a website - "The INR, or International Normalized Ratio, is a measure of how long it takes your blood to clot." HTH

Cha275rL profile image
Cha275rL in reply toBelle11

Thanku Belle 11. I had no idea.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

I am not able to read any of that and source of information is missing. If taken from a social media site I would ignore. Is this applicable to US or UK?

My OH is having the vaccine tomorrow - 87 and on anticoagulants and we are grateful it has been made available so quickly and for the life of me I cannot see why there would be concern?

The vaccine is not going to interact with anticoagulants, that I can find any information about. The only concern I have seen something about the intramuscular injection causes bleeding - well for heavens sake - so will any other injection such as flu vaccine which seems to be universally accepted as safe so what’s different about this vaccine?

Please advise if anyone know differently and can post a link with reliable information from a trusted and informed medical site.

In the meantime I will report back after OH has had the jab.

Cat04 profile image
Cat04 in reply toCDreamer

Para 4.4gov.uk/government/publicati...

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

I also wonder about the information it says about those on immunotherapy - which I am. That information also seems to be contrary to what I have been told.

Cat04 profile image
Cat04 in reply toCDreamer

sps.nhs.uk/articles/pfizer-...

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply toCat04

Thanks for the link - I think the importance of the statement is in the precise wording

anticoagulant therapy or those with a bleeding disorder that would contraindicate intramuscular (IM) injection, should not be given the vaccine unless potential benefits outweigh the risk

The manufacturer advises that immunocompromised individuals, including those receiving immunosuppressant therapy, may have a diminished immune response to the vaccine. They have no data about concomitant use of immunosuppressants.

That’s simply because people who are immune compromised were not part of any of the trials and the concern for those people with autoimmune is that their immune system may react resulting in a flare - which all of us with autoimmune know very well can happen with anything.

The reality is until we have the vaccine - we don’t know how we will react - ‘we’ being autoimmune on immune suppressants. We have to avoid live vaccines as they stay in the body but this is a novel vaccine which activates messenger T cells, not B cells so as far as anyone can tell me for certain, it should be perfectly safe and do no harm but whether or not it will provide protection is unclear. I’m certainly going fo it.

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply toCDreamer

People on anticoagulants were excluded from the AZ/Oxford trial. There should be more info about the reasons for excluding them.

sharonrc profile image
sharonrc

I take warfarin and had the covid vaccination on Friday with no issues at all. It's no different, from a bleeding perspective, to getting the flu vaccine. Had a bit of a sore arm Fri night but no other problems with it.

Sim22 profile image
Sim22

I spoke to a colleague who is a specialist and she advised me to have the vaccine especially looking at the data from other vaccines and anti coagulants

Redwing30 profile image
Redwing30

I am retired nurse who gave thousands of intramuscular and subcutaneous injections . There was never an incident where someone suffered severe bruising/bleeding at an injection site while taking an anticoagulant.For people in at risk health categories the benefits of having the vaccine far outweigh the risks and I am looking forward to my invitation for the vaccine.

Cally53 profile image
Cally53

My mother in law did yesterday!

Hannibal1948 profile image
Hannibal1948

I'm on Apixaban, 5mg twice daily.The original concern was that the puncture site would bleed excessively. I had the Flu jab and for good measure the Shingles jab a month ago; one in each arm at the same time.

The puncture site(s) did not bleed any more than my wife's who is not taking anticoagulants and had her jabs at the same time as myself.

Maybe I'm on a small enough dose not to affect the procedure but for anyone concerned, a quick word with their surgery should clear up any worries....

Barb1 profile image
Barb1

Yes you can.

Aprilbday profile image
Aprilbday

I just don’t want a a-fib episode. 2nd shot I am wondering could ignite it. Don’t know. Will take vaccine regardless. Been hiding in house since March other than walking dogs and I am fearful when passing by others. No way to live. No concern about being on anticoagulant. More worried about how heart could react to simulations of Covid

reinaway profile image
reinaway in reply toAprilbday

Yes I agree with you more of an AF worry than bleeding!

Lucymoo profile image
Lucymoo

I do wonder where the guidance is from and who has created it. Basically I’m on anti coagulants like the majority of people with AF and have recently been hospitalised due to a nasty head injury, had bloods taken as standard, tested for Covid all the works no problems. Had a very large haematoma no treatment necessary but stopping the anticoagulants for 48 hrs (accident happened 2 hours after taking my morning dose). Recent dental treatment requiring the reader numbing injection...so painful. Also had my flu jab and each time I have listened to my doctor / dentist. With regards to any Covid vaccination I’m happy to have and will listen to my doctor. It’s very easy to worry about such things but trusting your doctor is a real good way forward.

Hindmarsh profile image
Hindmarsh

Does anyone know what the contra -indications relate to? Is it the risk of bleeding from the injection itself? If so, I have the 'flu vaccine every year so shouldn't be a problem unless they have to use a particularly large needle!Or is there something in the vaccine itself that could trigger something. It is all so unclear.

Cat04 profile image
Cat04 in reply toHindmarsh

As I understand it, people on anticoagulants were excluded from the trials so there is no data on what any contra-indications may be.

Hindmarsh profile image
Hindmarsh in reply toCat04

Thank you. That makes sense.

Herogenus profile image
Herogenus

Its about excess bleeding at the sight of the injection i believe. I've had both the flu & pneumonia vaccine in the last few months without a problem. They will ask you if you have allergies, health conditions & meds. They need to be aware prior to the injection which is as it should be. (France)

TracyAdmin profile image
TracyAdminPartner

Please do not hesitate to contact our AF Association website or call our helpline if you require advice or information regarding the Covid vaccine.

Bowcat profile image
Bowcat in reply toTracyAdmin

Hi. I am due to have the pfizer vaccine next Tues and I am concerned as I have AF, Asthma and CKD also take Rivaroxaban and wandered if it is safe for me to take. I wrote an email to my Doctor asking for advice but so far no response. I do tend to have a lot of allergies which is another concern.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Flu Vaccine and anticoagulants

I went into Boots for my flu vaccine, and paid for it as I was told NHS did not know when they...
Pacific profile image

COVID v anticoagulants

Is it still okay to carry on taking anticoagulants if been unfortunate enough to contract COVID ?...
anyatall profile image

Anticoagulants?

We are doing some research for our resources, I hope you can help by answering the following...

Anticoagulants

I am looking to see my GP for discussions on changing from Warfarin. It would appear that there are...
Norm profile image

Covid vaccine

I’m due for a covid vaccine next week, has anyone had one yet and if so did it make any difference...
Beeflower profile image

Moderation team

See all
Kelley-Admin profile image
Kelley-AdminAdministrator
jess-admin profile image
jess-adminAdministrator
Emily-Admin profile image
Emily-AdminAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.