Pfizer and Rituximab

[-Mii]

Any one has side effects after Pfizer jab, and on Rituximab please ..? As mine was upset stomach and feeling nauseous. Waited 4 months too before jab after having infusion.

[Neonkittie17]

No only fatigue and a sore upper arm all over. No sickness.. my first Pfizer was 6 months after Rtx.

[-Mii in reply to Neonkittie17]

I was told 4 months after Rituximab… thanks for reply hope you are keeping well X

[Neonkittie17 in reply to -Mii]

I was told 6 months is the ideal time to wait between Rtx and the vaccines but it’s nigh on impossible for many to gauge it perfectly re timing and that advice referred to my own case, but .. it’s debatable in general. Anything from 4 months is as good as one can do. My B Cells are often absent for 8-12 months but the general rheumy opinion was don’t wait if you can get it as to wait for a longer gap between infusion and vaccine wasn’t sensible. Thank you I am doing ok and hope you are too. X

[bpeal1]

I’m on Rituximab and I felt slightly nauseous after my second phizer jab but only lasted a few hours. However I know someone on no medication (ie with no underlying health conditions) who was sick several times after her second phizer jab.

As for timings after Rituximab we’ve all been given different advice, it very much depends on your individual situation so just go with whatever your Rheumatologist suggests. Personally I was told to wait 4 weeks after Rituximab for the first dose and then I had the second one 10 weeks after that. That was 12 weeks ago and I have my next Rituximab booked for next week. If I leave Rituximab any more than 6 months apart I flare badly and my rheumatologist felt this was a much greater risk. She was confident that I would get a reasonable response to the vaccine this way. As I said everyone is different and the rheumatologist will have weighed everything up and given you the advice they think best for you.

[-Mii in reply to bpeal1]

Thanks for reply

[Evie3]

No I was fine….just sore arm. We r all different 😉

[-Mii in reply to Evie3]

Thanks for reply Evie x

[Brynithel3]

Hi Mii I started rituximab last August I had a second dose a few weeks later and a third in March. I had a stiff arm for about 24 hrs after the first vaccination and nothing after the second. My first Pfizer was a month before my Rtx infusion and the second about three weeks after the infusion. I had an antibody test several weeks after my second vaccination and they found no trace of antibodies. I had an appointment with the consultant last Friday 25th June and he confirmed that the B and T cells retain a memory and will produce antibodies if I get infected by covid.