Flu jab

[Flossie-M]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone can help.

I had a flu jab a couple of days ago.I am currently taking a weekly injection of benepali. Should I carry on with my injections as usual or should I delay having it for a few weeks?

Thank you in advance 🤗

[Gigi71]

I have never stopped any of my meds or Humira, if you are worried contact your rheumy dept. Take care. X

[helixhelix]

The flu vaccine is less effective in older and immune compromised people, which is why the companies have been developing different vaccines with things added to them to make them “take” better.

A few doctors recommend that you don't take your biologic drug the week before and the week after you receive the flu jab to improve it’s effectiveness. However there are NO research studies I can find that show this makes any difference. I don’t bother, and just have the flu jab and don't alter my drug routine. If you are concerned, talk to your own doctor.

[wishbone in reply to helixhelix]

I don't think they are, but do you know if the under 65s with autoimmune conditions are given the over 65 vaccine with the adjuvant added, which is supposed to make the immune system more responsive?

A bit off topic... I'm 68, but this winter I requested the under 65 quad-vaccine because my formerly mild tinnitus went nuts 2 days after last winter's over 65 jab. Can't say for certain if the new type of over 65 vaccine was the cause but I didn't want to risk it happening again. Had to cut through a bit of red tape first but eventually got there.

[helixhelix in reply to wishbone]

Hadn’t really thought about it, but I was given the over 65’s adjuvanated trivalent this year (I am under 65). Last year I got the quadrivalent. So my experience is that it’s luck of the draw which you get!

[wishbone in reply to helixhelix]

My surgery was reluctant to give me the under 65 quadrivalent to begin with. I even phoned a few pharmacies so I could pay for the under 65 jab, but they also refused saying they did not have a licence to do it. I'm not one for lying, but if push had come to shove I would have just turned up at some pharmacy and told them I was under 65. It was only when I pointed out that the NHS 2019/2020 annual flu programme states that a 65+ person can be given the quadrivalent vaccine as well as the usual adjuvanted trivalent vaccine, that my surgery said they would discuss it and informed me a few days later that they could not see a problem if I suspected an adverse reaction from last winter's over 65 adjuvanted vaccine.

Hope you can decipher that little lot?

Glad to say that my tinnitus has not got any worse since having the jab. That said, although it improved, it has never returned to the low level it was before the 1918 over 65 jab either.

[helixhelix in reply to wishbone]

Well if you’re still going after a 1918 injection then it must have contained something very magical!

[Mmrr]

I was told by my rheumatologist that I did not need to stop baricitinib (a biologic) for the flu vaccine.

[Moomin8]

Hi, I had the flu jab at the beginning of September. Didn't change my meds routine: Cimzia, Mtx and sulfasalazine (main ones) - all is ok 🙂

[Vanwife]

I never stopped the injections. Had the flu jab on Saturday and benepali injection on the Tuesday and no side effects.

Been on benepali for 2.5yrs and had flu jabs for 4 yrs and they have been worth their weight in gold.

Hope all goes well for you x

[Flossie-M in reply to Vanwife]

Thank you for your reply xx

[HevJ]

My nurse told me to carry on as normal 👍

[Pulfs]

Was due 1st round of retuximab infusions last Friday and as I hadn't had the flu jab was told to wait 2wks after 2nd round which is on the 15th.

[Flossie-M]

Thank you for all your replies, very helpful xx