Hello, I would like to ask if anybody has any advice about taking Hydroxychloroquine and biologics when getting Covid vaccine. I read in the internet that skipping a weekly biologics (belimumab in my case) after getting covid vaccine won't prompt a flare. Apparently taking it will reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. What about daily Hydroxy?
Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks!
A study actually found that belimubab DOESN'T contribute to failure of the vaccine
academic.oup.com/rheumatolo...
I can't find any decent references for hydroxy but with most of the medications they found that after 3 or 4 vaccines, the response had caught up - it was just delayed.
Thank you very much for looking into it. My last vaccine was on Jan. 21 and I had to stop as Pfizer got me so ill. I stayed very careful and didn't catch covid for all these years until summer this year after a hospital therapy course (!) and got very ill from Covid and the antiviral I took...so I have decided to chance and get a vaccine for this winter...but it takes so long to get through and get an opinion/advice from my rheumy... the medication side of suppressant and vaccine's role is confusing. I appreciate your response though.
Are you having your belimumab by infusion? I am and have it every 4 weeks, I've been told to have any vaccines in the middle of the infusions. Hope this helps.
hello I am on HCQ (I cannot spell it). First of all do a little research and read the pamphlet in your medication. Be aware of the side effects. I was recently diagnosed so I got put on a lot of medications at once, so unfortunately I cannot be sure which specific side effect get assigned to each medication. But overall my side effects settled pretty quickly and I am still on it whilst other meds have been reduced or stopped. With regards to vaccines if you are still undergoing IV treatment check on your next appointment if it is a good time to get the vaccine. As we are immuno suppressed all vaccines are good for us but it isn’t so much about the effect as much as it is about the right time. I got out of hospital 2 weeks ago and got my flu jab, my consultant then advised me that it was probably too early to have gotten this done.
Many thanks for sharing. I have been on Hydroxy for over ten years and I still have side effects...I never get flu jab as it makes me ill for a lengthy period. I have to take covid vaccine as the first covid I experienced was so seriously bad...it is all together frustrating. 😂
I’ve recently started hydroxychloroquine and have my Covid jab today I asked my consultant and he said there was no need to stop it for jabs or antibiotics. Hope that helps.
Many thanks for your response. Very good to know. I think I should wait till my next consultation as my weekly belimumab is also a question.
Hi,
I have been on Hydroxychloroquine and Mycophenolate since 2015. I have had all of my vaccinations as they have been offered without stopping either. I caught Covid back in 2021 having shielded for 18 months when the then government decided it was perfectly safe for me to return to school. I did one day and caught Covid. I was very poorly and ended up in hospital. I had had the first two vaccinations by then. The A&E consultant who admitted me said that had it been 6 months earlier my chances of survival would have been very different!
I have since had 8 vaccinations and when I caught it again during a trip to Paris this September it was no worse than a very heavy cold.
I don’t think you need to worry about Hydroxychloroquine and vaccinations but you could ask your GP or pharmacist if you are very worried.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience. Neither GP nor pharmacist know what belimumab is! I have to wait until my consultation with my rheumy and luckily it is at the beginning of Nov. and meanwhile, I am doing all I can to protect myself and not catch the bug...challenging as 99% of London population have forgotten all about covid. 😅
Hydroxy is fine with me, not sure about the other one as not taking it xx
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