How long after the second infusion of Rituximab can I have a flu vaccination

[achygran]

Was wondering if flu vaccination would work after rituximab too.

[Lolabridge]

You will probably get conflicting advice in reply. There had been much discussion on this topic recently. If you put flu jab into the search box you will see all the posts about it,

May I suggest you ask your patient helpline or Rheumy for their recommendation?

[AgedCrone]

Ask your rheumy nurse...on here people have been given various time scales.

I had my flu jab yesterday......exactly 12 Weeks after my last Rtx infusion...but as I said.....ask what YOUR Rheumatologist advises ..it’s his advice you should listen to.

[charisma]

It does seem to vary depending on country.

I had infusions of Rituximab late July and early August.

Got both flu and pneumococcal jabs on 23rd Oct, less than two months after second infusion of the pair.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to charisma]

Hi Charisma and Achy!

I asked the very same a couple of months ago. (See my posts and their subject headings, on my profile.) My flu vaccination next week will be ten weeks after my Rtx (just a single Rtx given this time) and I had my pneumonia vaccination a week ago which was eight weeks after my Rtx.

I was told by my rheumy it’s better to have the flu and pneumonia shots before your infusion(s), but you can’t always organise that to happen if your infusions are in the summer and no flu vaccines available then. I only decided to have my flu and pneumonia vaccines after talking to my nurse at my Rtx infusion in September. I haven’t had a flu shot before. Presume I had pneumonia as a baby but not since then.

Also. I was told by my rheumy nurse to leave a minimum of six weeks after Rtx before the flu shot. I’ve read very differing advice online by reputable hospitals and RA websites who have said for best effectiveness of the vaccination to have it six months after Rtx as then the B cells should be growing back to capacity. Or a month before Rtx. When I discussed the subject with my rheumy nurse and GP and respiratory consultant they all said the same .. better to have the vaccine and get some protection even if recent Rtx may be thought to lessen some of the efficacy of it. No one is entirely quite sure actually how much it could reduce the efficacy of it though. General consensus was some protection better then none. Hope you can get booked in for your vaccination, Achy. Ask your rheumy/doc what they advise.

[bpeal1]

You need to take advice from your rheumatology team. My rheumatologist recommended I wait a month after my Rituximab last year but I know some have been told to wait three and others 6.

[Pulfs]

I had mine 4wks after 2nd infusion x