I would like some scientific information on the way a vaccine would work for RA sufferers on immunosuppressants.we hear that coronavirus causes a cytokine storm re inflammation but our drugs are to prevent inflammation so what is the mechanism involved.
If they do find a vaccine how would they ensure those on immunosuppressants are the first to receive it. As a completely new disease there must be difficulty finding a vaccine.
Wouldn't we all like to know. Absolutely no idea. I think we will have to be patient and wait for more information ...
The million dollar question lol ! However a scientist on tv said it would be deactivated antigens so those shielding could have it ....it was on bbc question and answer yesterday
Coronavirus may cause a cytokine storm in some seriously ill patients. It is not something that seems from what I've read to be a common symptom. But it is why they are testing some of the types of drugs we use to see if in mega-high doses it could work as a treatment.
There are several different type of cytokines, and in the type of inflammation we have the numbers of them do rise. But more like just a few drops of rain than a storm, thankfully! So it is rather different to what happens when coronavirus overwhelms the body.
Perhaps more like the difference between a dripping tap that you can fix with a bit of tape or a new washer, and a broken pipe that gushes everywhere and needs major effort to stop.
As for the vaccine, coronavirus is in the same family as a common cold. But also the SARS and MERS epidemics of a few years back, and they have been working on vaccines for them. So a lot is known which makes it hopeful that they will find a vaccine.
However I very much doubt we will be first in the queue. The disease is most severe in people with heart and lung disease, plus obese diabetics. So I imagine they will be first after health workers. It is in fact starting to look as if we may be at not a hugely increased risk, but they need a lot more date analysis to be able to say what’s happening.
Anyway, the first vaccine may well be a live vaccine which we can’t take. So we might have to wait until an attenuated vaccine is developed.
They said not live on tv yesterday
Good! That gives us a better chance.
Indeed
If the Oxford group is successful, that would be great as it’s not a live vaccine but I think we need to be realistic in that it may very well be a live vaccine from another group or another country. That said, even if it is live, if most people get vaccinated, we will be more protected by herd immunity.
I am sure the first cohort of vaccinated people will be healthcare workers. We have seen how poorly they get as a result of exposure to a high viral load. Plus, it seems to make sense to vaccinate a (mostly) healthy group first.
We shall see in the coming months. Nobody really knows.
Last week I heard whatever minister it was at one of the govs daily briefings being asked who would be given priority regarding a vaccine. He replied health workers first followed by the most vunerable. His two boffins agreed with him.
I for one hope they stick to that, and don't make another cock-up like they've done with most things to date.
Well the simplest thing would just be to say all those eligible for free flu vaccine....but that is over 2 million people so may have to have an orser of priority.
I have little confidence with anything the government is saying it is going to do until it's done, and even then I'm not sure that they've actually done it.
I'm a bit odd in that I have had a cytokine test under stimuli. It was done by my Rheumatologist and it was found that I had no response from my IL-6 (the one that the virus sends into a frenzy), to any stimulation from bacterial, fungal and viral infection. My IL-10 is also not responding. So I have absolutely no idea what happens if/when I get a vaccine. And I don't make antibodies to anything.
Unfortunately, since becoming chronically unwell I have had to give up alcohol. I never drank very much but I have never missed a G&T as much as I do now.
All this cytokine talk would be a lot easier with a G&T in hand 🍸
That’s something different from the Elisa test isn’t it? Sounds interesting...does it mean they have a better idea which RA drugs you will and won’t respond to? And that this virus will give you no more than a sniffle!
Thanks
Another thought (I do a log of sitting and thinking these days) apart from anything else , there would be no point in vaccinating the immunocompromised and letting us out first, as all services /shops/offices/transport would still be closed, or on restricted opening.
All the immunocompromised could wander around aimlessly looking for things to do, or those at home due to limitations of their illness would still be at home 😉
They have no idea woukd happen to me if I got the virus. They are just telling me to shield and stay away from anyone with any form of respiratory infection, this is before the pandemic.
I used to get really sick with respiratory infections when I still worked. Everyone else would get a cold but I would get a serious bacterial infection.
Then I got sick with various AI/RD disease and it was often kidney related but my bloods were always normal. Normal while count, normal CRP but I'd look like I was heading for sepsis. I had to put my foot down with it because alot of the medics were believing the bloods and not my symptoms. Eventually my Rheumatologist stepped in to do "cytokine tests under stimuli" and my immune system didn't respond at all. I was in the middle of being assess for IVIG when Corona hit. I'm now under the care of Immunology too. It's apparently quite rare so it needs quite a lot untangling as to what is happening.
That’s interesting I will read up a bout this thanks
Hi, I've just written a reply above to helixheli which explains it a little more, or at least how I got to where I am.
Thanks
I agree HH, I expect any vaccine would be prioritised to those economically active, healthcare staff, key workers and so on first. Folks like us could be at the end of a long queue.
It’s a case of wait & see...it will probably be a non live vaccine like Infuenza, so we will have to rely in the advice of our Individual doctors as to whether we should have it or not. Of course if they produce a live vaccine we couldn’t have it.
We all have different types of immune reactions ....so like everything with RA/RD...nothing is straight forward.
But I don’t think we will need to be deciding any time soon....once a tried & tested vaccine is found, they will be vaccinating key workers to get the economy up and running first.......by that time hopefully the threat will be much less.
This question was asked by a guy on immunosupressants via a presenter to an immunologist on tv yesterday, a guy from cambridge who has been on a lot. He said that any vaccine would be made in 2 forms and there would be a live type and then also one similar in nature to the current flu jab . So a form to suit all people based on the same science.
But it may be a while before one is ready .
Yup we're all wondering about this eh?
So I'll do as per call my RA team and GP to discuss the ins and outs about, well usually talk to the nurses who know this information.
Interestingly the a hospital in my area are taking part in trials as part of the Oxford research program.
Link FYI
uhs.nhs.uk/AboutTheTrust/Ne...
As to who will be considered priority not sure, though somewhere in the melee had heard vulnerable ones are hoped to be sooner rather than later?
I suspect the economically active will be prioritised, getting the country back to some resemblance of normality will take precedence over everything else.
Tend to agree there Mm. Hope I'm proved wrong, but I see big problems ahead unless the government take things very slowy, which for some strange reason, I have doubts will happen.
I was listening to Mick ? leader of the transport and general workers union I think it was, explaining the problems of travelling by rail. He said he is waiting to hear what the governments plans for public transport are as they have yet to say what they propose. He reckoned that current safety precautions, such as social distancing, would cause huge problems and the queues to get on a train or the tube would be immpossibly long for a start. He was also, quite rightly, concerned about the safety of his members if there was no PPE available. It will be interesting to see how the government intend to get over these sorts of obstacles that's for sure...........
Nobody knows at this stage as there is no scientific explanation as no vaccine yet. Not sure what you are asking?
I’m similar to happy tulip my immune system doesn’t respond either. Don’t know whether a vaccine live or otherwise would protect me from anything as my immune system as far as I’m led to believe doesn’t produce antibodies or they don’t reach maturity so I’ve said that I don’t want some vaccinations that have been offered before because they won’t protect me at all and I can’t see the point in having a live vaccine which would make me very sick. I’m under immuno and rheumy too I haven’t managed to fight off a persistent cough well virus (which isn’t corona) for months each time it turns nasty I take antibiotics and I’m fine for a while and the cough goes then comes back again 🤷♀️.
As this is still in development and therefore we have no information based on scientific evidence, we can’t advise on this at the moment. As soon as we have confirmed reliable information we will post this on our website.
Thanks for that I just find this interesting and like to know about the science behind this,
Off Topic - Covid vaccine trials
My niece has Stills has is struggling finding support
Rituximab and Covid Astrazeneca Vaccine
Joint flare ups after Pfizer covid booster
