Which vaccine is better for CLL patients, Pfizer or Astra Zeneca ?

[Ankakoza]

After 5 years of slow raising , at 134000 WBC I had FCR chemo, only two cycles, as I reacted with high fever to Rituximab and blood count droped down to 8000 immediately, so twice the second day of Cyclofosfamid was cancelled and unfortunately I did suffer from Clostridium Difficile after each treatment. For 12 months everything was perfect, then the rise of WBC started, 14,5 in September, 45,7 at the end of January . I've been told that in summer the same chemo may be repeated, what's important is to have two years gap. I do not have mutation nor delection, and in my country Venetoclax is only for those who's leucaemia comes back within 6 months after chemo.

I have to choose - due to my age (67) I qualifay for Pfizer (not sooner as the end of March/begining of April) and as a part time teacher for Astra Zeneca more or less in a week time. What would you advice, on the base of your own experience ? whats the risk of raising WBC count, the same or different, or (hopefully - none) the same ? Will be gratefull.

Lot of health to everyone,

Anka

[cajunjeff]

The consistent advice we get from our Cll doctors on this is that we should take the first vaccine available.

I think this is because there is no data to say which vaccine would work best for us. All of the three approved in the US work very well. So little separates these vaccines these days such that if you could pick the one you want, you might just as easy have guessed wrong.

Let the a availability of the vaccine do the picking for you. That’s what most doctors say.

[LeoPa]

I'm from SVK. My Bro is a teacher too. No CLL but plenty other issues. I told him to go get the AZ till he can. The virus would kill him sooner than the vaccine. Why risk another few months without protection.

[bennevisplace]

The Pfizer vaccine performed better in clinical trials, but where the two vaccines have been given concurrently to the same age groups in the same population there seems to be little difference in efficacy. Neither vaccine poses safety issues for CLL patients, and anyone with a weakened immune system can be encouraged by the finding that vaccination has greatly reduced the chance of elderly people being hospitalised with Covid strath.ac.uk/whystrathclyde... This is a major study: a population of more than 5 million, with more than 1 million vaccinated.

Bottom line: take either vaccine, ASAP.

[Cheltman]

Hi Ankakoza

I’ve just finished (21/01/21) Rituxumab as part of my treatment (with Bendamustine) and was advised by my consultant that the Astra Zennaca vaccine was fine to have. I had my 1st jab 10 days ago and had no side effects.

[Ankakoza]

Thanks, I see there is no evidence that one is much better than The other, I’m going to have AŻ as sooner available, plus there are delays with others, one can’t be certain of anything.