What is the best advice for psoriatic / RA and the flu jab

[NathanT]

My local GP surgery have just advertised this year flu jab sessions!

I would be extremely grateful for people's advice regarding such a jab whilst taking 20mg MTX and likely zero positive psoriatic arthritis.

Thank you for reading

Nathan

[Hidden]

I have psoriatic arthritis. I had the flu jab whilst taking methotrexate with no problem. I did um and ah a bit, but in the end decided flu was probably more dangerous than the jab.

I didn't think you could be sero positive with PsA?

[NathanT in reply to Hidden]

Hi Nettienet,

Thank you for your kind advice.

The sero positive part is where there are no specific bio-chemical markers signalling RA.

But i have had lots of flares affecting one side of my body, without any psoriasis.

Nathan

[Barrister in reply to NathanT]

That’s sero negative. Sero positive means there are markers signalling RA. I have PsA and am sero negative for RA. My dad, on the other hand has RA and is sero positive.

Clemmie

[cathie]

There should be no problem but if you’re concerned as your GP. All of us who are immunocomprimised rely on others getting the jag and thus reducing our risk of being exposed to flu.

[oldtimer]

The more people have the immunisation against flu, the less it can spread through communities as there are fewer susceptible people to catch and spread it. 'Herd immunity' is an important aim for preventing epidemics! You personally may benefit by being protected (even if not completely), but you are also benefitting others.

[Simba1992]

Be sure to get the flu shot covering 4 strains of viruses and also may be an idea to stop mtx for two weeks after the shot.

ard.bmj.com/content/77/6/898

[NathanT in reply to Simba1992]

Thank you for sharing the link to a BMJ article ... very interesting reading.

[ruth_p in reply to Simba1992]

I would be weary of following advice of such a small scale research paper which hasn’t been peer reviewed.

[Simba1992 in reply to ruth_p]

Here some more reading.

healio.com/rheumatology/inf...

[BollySBK]

I've been called up for the flu jab, and the pneumonia one due to Psa, and I'm going to do it, mainly for the benefit of others due to my work... I'm on mtx too, but haven't yet been given advice about whether to stop it either side of the jabs. HTH.

[NathanT in reply to BollySBK]

Thank you ... Simba1992 provided a link for which you might find useful.

[BollySBK in reply to NathanT]

Thank you!

[Dodo1943]

I’ll be raising this issue with both GP and Rheumatology in October to ensure I get the right vaccine for my age - 75+.

Nine years ago I wanted an anti-tetanus jab but was advised the only vaccine available to me was the 3 in 1 Revaxis, which I’m convinced was the trigger for my subsequent 500 RF reading only five months later.

[Aless2002]

I have the flu shot every year (free to people with chronic diseases here in Oz) and Pneumovax when I turned 65 (once again for free). I stop MTX (one tablet/week) either side of the flu shot, and fit flu shot in between monthly injections of biologic (was on Simponi for years before it stopped working for the PsA- now trying Cosentyx). I've also had a shingles vax after a bout of that- happily, saw my GP the day after first signs, so had the special injection to limit problems. Was therefore pretty mild, thank goodness. My immune system seems to be quite good regardless...... :-?

[BollySBK]

Update: had both flu and pneumonia jabs on Thursday pm. By Thursday evening I felt out of sorts, usual sore arm. All fairly normal. Thursday night I started a fever and banging headache, very little sleep. Got through Friday (vaguely) but got worse by late evening. Saturday spent most of it in bed, ached from head to toe, arm swollen, sweating, then freezing, nausea, etc etc. Seriously never felt as bad, and never go to bed during the day. Feeling less horrendous today but no appetite, still aching. Read up on the two jabs together, some sites say shouldn't be given in the same arm, mine was. All a bit weird and wonder if I should have been offered different jab times let alone different arms?!

[LD1954 in reply to BollySBK]

I had both jabs last year and was told that it was better to have them in different arms and I had no problems afterwards except arm being slightly sore if I rolled over in bed. That only lasted a day or two and I suspect it was due to a bit of bruising possibly. I had another flu jab yesterday and it is fine today. Try taking some paracetamol which should help.

[BollySBK]

Thanks LD1954, appreciate that.