Has anyone gotten a flu shot after being on ocrevus?

[mm1527mm]

How long do you have to wait after your infusion before you can get it? Will ask my doctor when i go for my second infusion in two weeks but curious if anyone has gotten theirs and how long they were told to wait? Thank you! You all have been so great and helpful!

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

That would be a great question for Dr. Howard..

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

mm1527mm Ask the expert is Sept. 24 at 7:00 PM Eastern time.. hope to see you there, I asked questions in the last one and Dr, Hoffman is great!

[mm1527mm in reply to CalfeeChick]

Thank you! Is this through the app or a certain website link?

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to mm1527mm]

mm1527mm Last time, I just showed up here at the correct time, (4:00 PM) my time. johnMSAA introduced Dr. Howard and the hour went by quickly. I asked one of our moderators to re-post the nfo..

[rjoneslaw]

I have never gotten the shot

[greaterexp]

Great question! I hope you get answers and will share what you learn with us.

[kdali]

I wasn’t told anything because she never got back to me. I got mine around 3 months post infusion. I did a lot of travel and did not get the flu.

[mm1527mm in reply to kdali]

I was told by the nurse after my first half infusion not yet so figured i would ask the doctor in two weeks for my second half dose. That is good to know. I normally get it around this time every year because of my little ones

[kdali in reply to mm1527mm]

I believe the half life of the drug is 28 days, so I did not want to get it during that period. My family got their shots on time though! Some will wait until 2 weeks before their next dose, but since you are getting yours now...you are basically where I was last year.

I hope you get a straight answer from your doctor!

[Linda3579]

My neuro told me at least 6 weeks before of 6 weeks after. I got mine a week ago as I have my 6th infusion the last week of October. Of course you should check with your own doctor.

Wishing you the best,

Linda

[mm1527mm in reply to Linda3579]

Thank you!

[erash]

Best to get vaccinations @ 4 weeks before a next infusion (6 weeks before the first). This is just based on the assumption that your immune system will respond better as Ocrevus wanes. But of course the flu shot is seasonal so using that time line doesn’t always work.

The concern is that with a decreased immune response from O the vaccine is less effective (not that you are at risk from the vaccine —maybe you already know that 🤷‍♀️).

I got my 2nd full infusion August 30th and will probably wait till mid October to get my flu shot.

Remember it also takes several weeks before the flu shot is effective.

[mm1527mm in reply to erash]

Thank you!

[ahrogers]

I get a flu shot every year through work because I am a nurse. For whatever reason the hospitals I have worked for always get their vaccines in later than community pharmacies so I don't usually get mine until October. I have been on Ocrevus for 3 years and my infusions are typically January and June/July so luckily not near when I get my flu shot.

I will be asking about the shingles shot timing now that I am 50.

[pamgarner]

Yes I did, but I did wait 2 months.You have just gotta check and make sure this years version is not a live vaccine,like shingles shot always are.good luck

[Juliew19673]

Good question, thanks for asking. I am getting mine (Flu shot) next week, which is 2 months before my next Ocrevus infusion, which will be my 4th and am looking forward to that!

[kwhompus]

infusions in Aug and Feb. flu shot every Nov. I've had no problems so far. I too am interested in what the doctor has to say

[mm1527mm in reply to kwhompus]

Had my infusion last year in september got flu shot in october was told to wait four weeks after infusion all was fine