Pneumonia jab

[agnesmay]

I was told that I should not have the pneumonia jab because it is a live vaccine and would interact with my methotrexate...

[agnesmay]

The Nurse at my GP practise, she advised me to check with my Rheumy team which I did and was advised not to have the jab..

[chunkypie]

I'd go with the advice you have been given by Hospital. I did ask the question to my Dermo Consultant and they said i should have Flu and Pneumonia jab. Ive had the Flu jab with no probs unfortunately was told the Pneumonia Jab is unavailable until Jan/Feb

[agnesmay in reply to chunkypie]

I have my 'flu jab, no problems...but advised against the pneumonia jab...if you are taking methotrexate I would check it out..

[Poshcards in reply to agnesmay]

I have Lupus so no live jabs at all. I am on methotrexate at highest dose and I had pneumonia jab with no problems x

[Hidden]

🤔I was told by rheummy team that I must.. often find conflicting advice from different rheumatologists

[Barrister]

My rheumatologist wrote to my GP requesting that I be given the pneumonia jab. I inject MTX and Benepali. It is not a live vaccine.

Clemmie

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Barrister]

I was told by my rheumy nurse .. a senior nursing sister .. to have both flu and pneumonia as neither are live. I have both Rtx and Mtx and was told to leave space of 6-8 weeks after Rtx (ideally more) and not have Mtx on the same week. I waited almost 9 weeks for the pneumonia shot then two weeks after had the flu shot. I think this year more then ever we need to have the flu vaccination and ensure the pneumonia doesn’t need a booster.

[agnesmay in reply to Barrister]

Are you saying that pneumonia jab is not a live vaccine?

[nomoreheels]

There are 2 types of pneumonia vaccine. One protects against 13 strains & the other 23 strains, neither are live vaccines. Whoever told you that’s it's live isn't correct I’m afraid. I take it wasn’t a health professional? It is often recommended prior to starting DMARDs we're vaccinated, it was leflunomide for me even though at the time I’d been on MTX around 9 years & the Practice Nurse added it on to my annual flu vaccine. So please, take the advice of the medical professional who said to have it, we need to be as protected as we can be especially nowadays, both flu & pneumonia vaccines will do just that against the most virulent strains. Having either could floor us &, God forbid, you contract COVID-19, well, I don't need to say. Unless you have another reason for you not to have inattentuated (inactivated) vaccines?

[agnesmay in reply to nomoreheels]

It was a Health Professional who advised me not to have the jab...the nurse who was appointed to give it to me was reading my notes when I walked into her surgery and she said she did not want to give it to me until I had checked with my Rheumy Team because I have methotrexate by injection..

[nomoreheels in reply to agnesmay]

Differing opinions between different medical professionals. Is it any wonder we ask here?! I've been on MTX injections 10 years & had the pneumovax injection, others on MTX by either method have had it too, others have been asked to have it before they start MTX. All you can do is do as you're advised, but it's not a live vaccine nevertheless. I wonder why you were told not to have it? Did you think to ask at the time? It would be interesting to know.

As a matter of interest, do you have the flu vaccine?

[helixhelix]

This is the NHS page about the pneumococcal jab (usually known as pneumonia jab) which makes it clear we should have it!

I certainly have...

nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinati...

[Neonkittie17 in reply to helixhelix]

I have had both flu and pneumonia shots this year and haven’t had them before. Think I had a pneumonia vaccination as a baby. My Mum wrote down all my immunisations in my baby book if I ever want to check!

[Zip1 in reply to helixhelix]

Me too,

[Boxerlady]

I've had both recently and confirmed that neither were live at the time

[Lolabridge]

I had both last year.

[Sheila_G]

I think you have been given the wrong information there. I had mine 2 years ago without any problems. Doctor wouldn't give it you if not safe

[RAexperiences]

I had both the pneumonia shots snd the flu shot with no issues. Was told they are not live. I’m on methotrexate and a biologic.

[Silverpixie]

My rheumy team advise me to have the flu jab every year and the pneumonia jab every 5 years and I do. I'm on tocilizumab leflumonide and azathrioprine

[SoulmanPaul in reply to Silverpixie]

Hi, I fear you've unintentionally raised another issue. My rheumy and gp advised that the pneumo jab is once only, but I know others have been advised otherwise. It's a shame when professionals differ as it just causes patients to worry.

[Hidden in reply to SoulmanPaul]

Certain groups of patients are advised to have it every 5 years, usually anyone considered to be ‘properly’ immunocompromised or otherwise unlikely to maintain a good immune response over time without help, or if they’re in some other way particularly high risk. You tend to find within respiratory patients that they quite often suggest having it repeatedly if your lung function is poor. Across all relevant specialties, it is almost down to the consultant’s personal preference, though, to some extent, as no definitive list exists, and the research into it is patchy.

[vonniesims in reply to SoulmanPaul]

Yes, I was told just the once for a pneumonia jab

[HanaleiBa]

The nasal flu treatment is live, the jab is not. That’s all :).

[Ferret18]

I had the pneumonia jab in 2018 and was on methotrexate at the time.

[Hidden]

The advice you have been given is categorically wrong in specific relation to your medication and arthritis, however that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the wrong advice for you: there may be other elements to your medical history that mean they feel the pneumonia vaccine isn’t appropriate. I would, however, double check this, as the vaccine is usually a very strong recommendation for all patients with inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune issues, along with pretty much any other condition that puts you on the list for requiring an annual flu vaccine. If you are still told no, I would - for your own piece of mind - ask why it’s not advisable: knowledge is power at the end of the day. It’s NOT a live vaccine, very few routine vaccines in the U.K. actually are, so is considered safe for those that are immunocompromised in any way, including due to DMARD use. Having been diagnosed this year, I had my pneumonia vaccine at my rheum’s instruction about 6 weeks ago alongside my flu vaccination. Some rheums do seem to advise potentially skipping a dose of mtx when you have it, but mine told me to continue with all treatment including my mtx as normal.

[essexgirl]

I’ve had mine and I’m on 20mg mtx

[Nuttyshirlz]

I was told by my rhemy nurse on my first appointment to have pneumonia and flu before I started on Metz and have had my flu jab every year for last 4 yrs since.

[oldtimer]

Look it up yourself: patient.info/doctor/pneumoc... you can quote from a position of knowledge.

[Pulfs]

On both retuximab and methotrexate and have had both jabs, flu and pneumonia as advised by RA clinic. 🤔