RA and Covid vaccination

[Sunset54]

Was anyone told to stop some medications before and after Covid vaccination?

I wasn’t and have had no reactions to either jab. Now worried they will not be effective as I did not stop my metijet and Benepali and prednisolone

[oldtimer]

The short answer is that we don't know yet - research to determine people's response to vaccines is continuing.

There was one paper that suggested that stopping methotrexate improved the response for some people. But we don't know how many people widely may be affected or by how much. You will still have some response to the vaccine.

Advice to people varied from 'don't stop' to 'stop for two weeks before and after'. It seemed to depend on how likely you were to have a flare if you stopped (which would make you more likely to be ill from Covid) as well as the independent opinion of the rheumatologist.

There have been lots of posts on this so you can see them by putting the question in the search box. There is up-to-date information on the NRAS website about vaccination too.

[helixhelix]

Lack of reaction/ strong reaction has no relation to whether or not you are developing antibodies - we are very individual in this.

[Hidden]

As per Helix’s reply - reacting or not reacting has no bearing on degree of immune response. That’s the same with any vaccination, and in any event, in the case of covid, they’re saying you only need to mount a small response to prevent death and severe illness. Whether or not people were told by rheum to stop meds varied wildly: in my neck of the woods, the department changed their answerphone message to explicitly state that no one needed to stop taking any medication before or after their vaccinations. Others on here were told to stop some but not others, stop all, stop before or after but not both, both before and after...it’s an unprecedented situation, and the varying approaches reflected that, but there is a suggestion that rather than impair immune response, some meds used in RD may actually offer a degree of protection against covid. Hopefully, by the autumn we may have a bit more data and better understanding of the issues with regards to DMARD therapy and immunity, but regardless of that, some of it is - and will always be - just about practicing good infection control and abiding by social distancing recommendations.

[Sunset54 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you everyone who responded. Great to have that reassurance and information . Stay safe everyone.

[Neonkittie17]

Hi, the main med which is/was causing some people issues is the Rituximab infusion biologic. It depletes B cells/ immunity for several months and often some people don’t repopulate those B cells so fast so trying to find the optimum time for the vaccines proved a bit harder for some. So everyone on Rtx had to speak to their rheumy at my hospital to try ascertain the better time for them.

[Lizbain1]

There has been a study into the effectiveness of the vax and what taking meds reduces it by but the way I see it we are all so very different x

[CFergie]

I wasn’t told to stop my biological medication but was surprised to have received a letter some weeks later to inform me due to my auto immune diseases would I participate in a survey to see if the covid vaccine actually worked it was a bit concerning

[Hidden]

There is no suggestion that continuing RA medications would lead to side-effects from the covid vaccination. The point of pausing (preferably for 2 weeks after the jab) is to give the vaccine the best chance of working. However, as oldtimer says, no decision has come down to us yet. I asked my rheumatologist about it as my RA is very stable at the moment. She said they had received no instructions, but as I have paused MTX for two weeks after the flu jab and also while taking antibiotics without ill-effect, she would leave the decision to me. I don't think anyone has been told anything more definite that, but you should ask your consultant and discuss what's OK for you. I was comfortable with pausing the MTX for two weeks and did so.

[Helen-NRAS Moderator]

If you would like support, information or just someone to talk to, our NRAS helpline is open every week day from 9.30am to 4.30pm nras.org.uk/helpline/ 0800 298 7650. Or have a look at our website nras.org.uk.