I have been on biologics for the past 11year(at present abatacept infusions every 4 weeks) & I have had pneumonia vaccination every 5years. I had a reminder from my gp practice that a boaster was due. Made an appointment but nurse wouldn’t give it to me as wasn’t sure about authorisation. She rang a vaccine helpline for health professionals who apparently said I didn’t need it. The nurse at the practice didn’t seem to know much about biologics.
I am trying to organise vaccines as Covid boaster & flu vaccination are due next month & need to space out with abatacept to get the best cover.
Has anyone else had this problem with getting the pneumonia vaccine recently & is this still advised if you are on biologics?
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Jacqbox
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I had a text March 2020 saying I needed a booster. Every time I ask at the doctors they say they are out of stock. I am on methotrexate and adalimumab.
Thank you for your reply. I was told it was a one off when I had my first but 5 years later I was told I need boasters due to being on immunosuppressants. My GP practice called me in to have the boaster, then the confusion. I will post when I get an answer
I was told I would need a booster after 10 years, then I was told they are now not needed. Start of Covid I had the text from the doctor, but they have never had them in stock when I have been through the door!
I had quite a palaver to get a pneumonia jab when first diagnosed with RA. Rheumy said that I should have one, GP disagreed and by the time it was confirmed by the rheumy, the GP didn't have any available. I asked at my local pharmacy (where I got my flu jab) and they weren't licensed to give it but had applied. I kept nagging the GP and eventually managed to get it several months later only to have the pharmacist ring a week later to offer me one 🙄I can well imagine that I'll have to go through something similar if/when I need it again.
I told my GPs surgery my consultant said I should have a booster every five years (I'm on mtx and enbrel), they said I don't, it's a one off vaccination. During a telephone consultation last December I asked my consultant and he said I did, he put it in the letter that's sent to my GP about my consultation. I'm on three monthly bloods at my doctors, been twice since and each time been told they haven't got any there's a shortage. I was only thinking today I've still got to have it as well as a booster for covid and a flu one soon.
I needed an authorisation from my rheumy last year re pneumonia shot which was not an issue as the rheumy says everyone on biologics and other RA meds should be having that vaccine.
The only thing I know about pneumonia vaccine is that there are two. One of them needs to be repeated and one is a one off. I can't remember where I read that or which jab is for whom.
It can depend what country you are in too. I had a shot in WV, USA in 2015. Info showed it had to be repeated in not less than five years. I gave all info on it (printed from internet) plus my papers showing what vaccine I’d had, to GP in Scotland.
Got a pneumo shot in Oct 2020. Not told I might need boosters. I am on Rituximab, powerful biologic monoclonal drug infusions. And I got pneumonia anyway after the infusions earlier this year. Biologics do make less common types of pneumonia more likely to occur in those receiving biologic drugs. It’s all rather bewildering at times!
Just to update on having pneumonia vaccination boasters. I spoke to my GP & Rheumatologist this morning. Both have said that I should have the pneumonia 5 year boaster as on biologics, now booked for Wednesday. Hope this might be helpful for others.
Morning. Mine was a ten year vaccine which I had last Autumn. I thought it was important as lots of people with Covid go on to develop Pneumonia. As I did some reading around this time, I discovered there are some ‘5 year’ ones. I would contact your Rheumatology department & state they need to inform your GP you need a booster. No other Health Professional should be intervening in your treatment. At my last GP practice they flat refused me a flu jab….. changed practices.
Thank you for your help. I am having my 5year boaster tomorrow. I did do as you said & contacted my Rheumatology team. It was agreed that I do need a 5 year boaster & sent a letter to my GP. I will check tomorrow if it is one that only needs a 10 year booster.
I had a telephone appointment with my Rheumatologist yesterday about pneumonia vaccines. He wasn't interested when I told him my 3rd Covid jab was recorded as a booster, but wanted to know instead when I last had a pneumonia vaccine. I told him it was a long time ago and I'd only ever had one. When I checked it was in 2008. He said I should have them every 5 years and to arrange it with GP. Telephoned GP Surgery but they wouldn't allow me to book a vaccine without receiving it in writing from Rheumatologist which he has now done.
When I checked on NHS website it does say immunosuppressed should have them every 5 years and gives HIV as the example but why don't they bother to tell us? I suspect Covid has alerted them to check up on these things.
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