Rituximab and vaccine

[autowhen]

Hi

Has anyone had any advice on timings of Rituximab and the covid vaccine?

I have been told that Rituximab cannot be given until a month after the second dose and if Rituximab has been given recently there has to be a six month wait til receiving the vaccine.....

Trying to work out the logistics, so would like to hear what others have been told.

[oldtimer]

The NRAS website as usual has advice on lots of vaccination questions and specifically answering the question you pose here:

See further information for rituximab patients at nras.org.uk/resource/freque...

[KittyJ]

As old timer says, have a look at the NRAS website. Also there has been lots of questions on here about this over the last few weeks so if you scroll back you will find them or you can use the search box. There’s lots of them 😊

[bpeal1]

There is some good device here arma.uk.net/covid-19-vaccin... but things are changing frequently as they are getting a better understanding and supplies of vaccine are increasing. I would suggest contacting your rheumatology department to discuss it. My rheumatology department are being proactive about this, I had an appointment last week (at quite short notice), she said they are working their way through all the Rituximab patients to discuss vaccination.

[autowhen]

Thank you for your replies.

Unfortunately in my situation the rheumatologist is not the one who ordered the Rituximab it was the neurologist and the neurologist is insisting that the Rituximab is delayed until after the covid vaccine without consulting with the patient. It is causing stress and anxiety which is worsening symptoms, as no one is arranging earlier vaccination, the 6 monthly Rituximab was due last week, we have no idea when the vaccine will be available to have, so it could be months without treatment which involves multi-organ autoimmune issues. It is horrible being at the receiving end of a doctor’s unilateral decision.

[Moomin8]

Hi, I have yet to have my first infusion, I had call today to say the funding has come through though. I asked about my 2nd vaccine and the timings etc. The rheumatology nurse said the infusion has to be no closer than 4 weeks after my 2nd covid vaccine - Astrazeneca, not that it makes any difference which vaccine.