I was slightly concerned to read this , but not sure how concerned I should be... "Chloroquine inhibits antibody responses to vaccines" frontiersin.org/articles/10...
Does anyone know of any further research on the topic of the effect of hydroxychloroquine on the response to covid (and any other) vaccines?
Surprisingly, considering flare reaction to flu vaccine, colds, tummy bugs etc I had no reaction whatsoever to either of the AstraZenica vaccine doses. Well 2nd one caught a nerve, which was a bit unpleasant for a few hours!
I'm going away for 5 days with partner and had hoped to have meals indoors (no choice for breakfast) if places were not crowded, now I feel a bit cautious.I know the vaccine is not 100% but felt a bit of relaxing was ok. I also live with my parents & my Ma is definitely still vulnerable even after vaccine.
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No not a good thing. it's about what effect the taking of hydroxychloroquine has on any vaccine, that it might inhibit an antibody response. An antibody response is what is required for a vaccine to work. It was looked at when rabies vaccine failed to save someone in the 1980s.
I guess we are all different and respond in different ways, but I was concerned that if hydroxychloroquine inhibits an antibody response it's not so good for all of us who take it. I have had flare ups and been somewhat unwell from the flu vaccine so I assume something was happening, but I have no idea if that was actually an antibody response
To update: there is a large UK wide research project called OCTAVE nearing its conclusions and according to NRAS it will be publishing its findings on how well the Covid vaccine has worked for those who are immunesuppressed. I doubt it will have much about those taking Hydroxichloraquine because this DMARD is not viewed by most clinicians as truly immunesupressing like the others. The main emphasis will be on those on biologics - especially Rituximab - and cancer patients on high doses of immunesuppression.
Meanwhile since I posted about this three months ago I bought a Roche Covid antibody spike protein test from Lloyds pharmacy for £50 to see if I’ve mounted any response and learned that I have.
My response wasn’t huge compared to that of others I’ve read of on NRAS and here - but it was still clear positive.
My dose of immunosuppression has been raised to max now and I’ve just been given an IM depomedrome shot so I’m very glad I got this test done. I wouldn’t be well enough for a holiday and have had a week in hospital on infusions just when my hospital has had to reopen two Covid wards due to high rate here so it was quite reassuring. But I’m definitely still in shielding mentality nonetheless.
Sorry to hear you've had to be in hospital and yes is a worry if there is covid in the hospital. I hope your current treatments help.
thank you for that information, including the Roche Covid antibody spike protein test.
I'm glad to hear that there is some work being done on the immunesuppressed and the vaccine. I was surprised when I saw the information about hydroxychloroquine, because I knew it wasn't in the same category.
I'm going on holiday about 25 miles away from home so that my partner and I can have a few days on our own; I'll probably overdo things, but know home is not far away. Luckily my partner, who is not so cautious, is very happy to do whatever I feel safe with. I wouldn't go indoors 2 weeks ago, for a meal somewhere that he really likes the pasta but there was a table outside in the nearly rain and we sat there. As I live under a big umbrella in daylight hours I'm always ready for the rain
Many restaurants have made outdoor eating facilities really good now so hopefully you’ll have a lovely time. I think very well ventilated places with not too many people and good hand washing facilities should be reasonably safe if staff are wearing face masks - especially since you’ve had both vaccines.
The reason it’s become so hard to even contemplate an overnight break just now is that I have severe gastroparesis with bowel dysmotility so the GI stuff and constant fatigue wouldn’t allow me to relax.
But actually we’re in the middle of a house move so got my nightmarish packing to finish and the big day to think about. I have insisted that all removals men wear masks as the guy coming to give the quote wasn’t wearing one when he walked round our small home. I’ve gone back to telling people I’m CEV and immunesuppressed now and am very firm that people respect this. I do hope I manage to avoid Covid or that I maybe had it very early on last year when I was unwell pre-lockdown perhaps.
It’s worrying that people are going to be giving up on masks once they aren’t mandatory. I heard a cardiology doctor saying that two of his staff had just tested positive when I was walking through outpatients yesterday - not good.
having a house move as well must be a huge task - not the easiest when fit and well. I hope that all goes well for you.
And thank you, yes hoping it will be enjoyable - and a break for my partner (not to mention his son having a break from his Dad, bless him he was living in Wuhan so had to move back home to his Dad in a hurry in Feb 2020!). I have to trust that things are ok and if I feel uncomfortable don't go in. I've always got my big umbrella (as well as all my head, face and body cover up) to enable me to be in the great outdoors!
Thanks. Yes I’ve had the year from hell on many levels (as have many I realise) and this house move can’t be over soon enough. I’m dreading the day itself - now looming ever closer!
It sounds as if you’ve got everything covered in all senses so I’m sure you’ll have a lovely, well deserved break.
I can relate to your personal experience that being masked is fairly normal. I’m one point off albinism and have sun sensitivity due to vitiligo, systemic sclerosis and Sjögren’s, plus sun damage related malignancy on my lip.
So masks and cotton snoods I can pull up over my mouth and nose have really helped me in both the cold weather and the sunnier brighter weather too.
Apart from those who are medically exempt like your mum I really don’t see the issue in wearing masks. X
Thank you, that's good to know. Similar situation to me, I take a total of 400mg (tho often wonder about asking to reduce dose - but that's a whole other topic!)
Of course it’s not protective if someone unmasked sneezes or coughs droplets in an enclosed space. However I believe, from what public health experts explain, masks can help prevent a person who may be infected from transmitting Covid. They can’t prevent people from catching it off others. It’s just one of various methods, along with social distancing, hand washing properly and keeping indoor spaces well ventilated, that can help prevent transmission.
But even if you don’t believe this to be true - i feel that wearing a mask conveys that you are prepared to be courteous and think of others who may well be clinically extremely vulnerable - that’s all.
Anadotal at this time but the lowest flu rates on record in masked countries speaks volumes to me how effective masks really are. Also I was directly exposed to numerous infected people and believe with all my heart my kn95 was why I never caught it. Also health care professions who wore masks through the pandemic have lower case rates than the general public. No one will ever convince me that masks do not work, lol
“…The quality of face masks healthcare workers wear makes a huge difference to their risk of coronavirus infection, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust research has found.
Wearing a high grade mask known as an FFP3 can provide up to 100% protection…”
That’s your decision of course, but from my perspective, if I saw someone like you I’d be very anxious and try to avoid you if I possibly could, especially on public transport or in shops or at doctors or in hospital.
masks are to protect others not the wearer. there is plenty of evidence that they do help reduce airborne viruses, via the spread of aerosols and droplets. If you want to protect yourself you need something specialised
Because of having to always cover my face in daylight for the last 7 years, I already had an interest in the wearing of masks - and the east Asian habit of wearing them to stop sneezes and coughs spreading colds & flu (also preventing breathing in pollution and pollen) certainly seems positive. So very early on started collecting up research papers and studies. If you'd like to see any links to research I can list some.
“…The quality of face masks healthcare workers wear makes a huge difference to their risk of coronavirus infection, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust research has found.
Wearing a high grade mask known as an FFP3 can provide up to 100% protection...”
I was told at the second vaccine by a pharmacist who was doing it that I would have less of a antibody response to the vaccine compared to others but I would have some response and the hope was that it would be enough to prevent serious illness. To be fair had the bugger and have no antibody response - totally pinning all hopes on T cells.
Guess it is a something is better than nothing moment.
there's hope I suppose! I wonder about doing an antibody test. Just take precautions and hope others do too. Not sure when Cymru/Wales makes their next announcement, we're still only partially going into alert level 1 - which does require face covering still & physical distancing, unless new thoughts come into being - they are rejigging alert level 1, so wait to see
I've had flu once (GP confirmed) and quite a few colds since being on HCQ (for 7 - 8 years), so my experience is it doesn't stop viruses.
As far as I know, in terms of giving blood/plasma, there are deferral times for many vaccines before you can give blood (not sure if you mean all vaccinated or covid vacinated).
The spectator article link doesn't work, but I found it.
The study was about wearing a mask to protect the wearer -as I previously said it is not about wearing a facemask to prevent you catching the virus but wearing a mask to help prevent the spread - it is literally a barrier and even if it doesn't stop everything it lowers the viral load. You can look at the link I posted which has many references.
Wearing a mask is to protect others - just imagine you have the virus and what will you do to not spread it.
I don't take any other immunosuppressive medication.
I'm not a scientist but keep reading and trying to understand new information- as I have done with my medication before a pandemic!
There seems very contradictory information on hydroxychloroquine and covid19.
I don't think chloroquine & hydroxychloroquine are entirely interchangeable, even though the original article I posted talks of them both, tho HCQ is a derivative of chloroquine I think...
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