Vaccines

[GoingCrazy_]

Has anyone receiving Ocrevus get a flu or covid vaccine? I have been advised to get them at the same time,, at least a month prior to my next infusion. Just curious.

[starlight5]

I have never got a flu shot but I did get 2 of the moderna vaccines for covid, then I got covid a week after the first vaccine!🙄🤣 and again a year later

[mrsmike]

I'm on Ocrevus and I've gotten both the flu and covid vaccines. My neurologist told me to get them 12 weeks before and/or after my infusion.

[anaishunter]

I've worked with my neuro to schedule all my COVID vaccines/boosters 4 week prior the next Ocrevus infusion.

[Cwright170994]

Yes, at least my MS nurses tell me to get it. Makes it a bit difficult, however, when your 12 weeks after the ocrevus where you can't get vax's has a new covid released and you can't get your Drs to hold onto a vax before they stop stocking them 🙃 oh well, not caught covid or the flu! (Despite my husband accidentally bringing covid home one year a week or so after my ocrevus infusion 🤦‍♀️ still love him, and I "nursed" him, despite me grumbling at how he's not helping himself and putting on a "man flu" attitude.)

[Tazmanian in reply to Cwright170994]

Try Cvs

[bulldogman]

I’ve been using Ocrevus since it came out. I receive both flu and Covid vaccines both 8 weeks before my next infusion. This is what my neurologist recommends.

[ahrogers]

I am required to get the flu shot in the month of October for work. I only got one Covid vaccine (J&J) in April 2021 (again required by work so couldn't time it around my infusion). I get my Ocrevus infusions in January and July. I have not had the flu in many years but have had Covid 3 times. The first time was right before I was going to get a booster in Dec 2021 so obviously didn't get the booster. Probably got a different strain of Covid each time since they were more than 6 months apart each time I had it. Just had it in July (about 11 months after the second bout) a few days after my infusion so hoping timing was good for developing antibodies this time. Not sure it will help with the next strain though.

[jorrell]

That is the most recent advice I got from my Neuro. It doesn't matter which comes first, but they should be taken close together. The older instructions (that I no longer follow) were covid and flu shots 3 months after Ocrevus. Apparently someone did some research and they changed their minds!

[Lisa_Doggett]

Flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines are definitely recommended for those of us on Ocrevus. Getting vaccinated is important and safe.

The National MS Society has good info about timing of COVID vaccines (at least 4 weeks before is reasonable) : nationalmssociety.org/coron...

For flu vaccines, it's been harder for me to find a clear reference, but I think getting a flu shot 2 weeks before or 4 weeks after an Ocrevus infusion is a pretty good bet.

Hope that helps!

[kdali]

I think it's up to you and how you have done in the past with vaccines, if you want to get them both at the same time. 4 weeks before the infusion is standard advice. However, if you want to space them out, you could ask your neuro about starting with vaccines 6 weeks before your next infusion.

[kycmary]

I am on Ocrevus also I got the covid shots & boosters all but the last booster, I got super sick when I got a flu shot close to 50 yr ago was told because I was already coming down with the flu, got 1 that yr unhun so sick I new I had to die to feel better. Haven't had a flu shot since. I would get bronchitis every fall & again by winter, haven't had it since I quit smoking over 23 yrs ago. have had pneumonia 1 times about 3 yrs ago then the following yr again. Knock on wood not since I finished the pneumonia vaccines.