Hi, I had my first round of rituximab, 5 weeks ago. I’ve been told I can have the covid booster and flu jab together. Is this advisable?

[debjw]

Covid vaccine and flu jab together

[Lolabridge]

Do check with your Rheumatologist if it’s ok to have them together and when they recommend.

[AgedCrone]

Usually one is advised to wait a minimum of 3 months after a Rtx infusion before having any vaccination…the Rtx will decrease the efficacy of the jabs.I’m due an jnfusion in November…so I got in quickly & had my flu jab at Boots two weeks ago.That way round…you can have Rtx one month after the flu jab.

But best to check with your Biologics nurses….no point having the vaccinations if the Rtx is going to negate their effects.

[sunnyweek in reply to AgedCrone]

AC I'm just wondering if you have had or intend having your third vaccine before retuximab. I'm in a similar position and have had no info yet regarding the third. Thanks.

[AgedCrone in reply to sunnyweek]

Sorry….I’m afraid I’m no help as I’m sitting on the fence .I had really nasty side effects from the first two vaccinations & have only just started to feel almost back to normal…since the first jab in January & the second in May…I now have until November to make up my mind.

I’ve had umpteen blood tests & see my haematologist in a couple of weeks……who together with my Rheumatologist will advise me…but of course the final decision will be mine……tbh right now I’m tending to not have it…because bottom line unless the blood tests show a reason why I had such reactions…it’s a leap in the dark.

Having just moved house I am still unpacking boxes….& the thought of having another nasty reaction surrounded by all that entails…right now I can’t face it…& will wait & see what my doctors say & what further research shows after Christmas!

But if I hadn’t had the nasty reactions…I would definitely have the third jab.

[sunnyweek in reply to AgedCrone]

Thank you AC for your reply. Sorry you had such a reaction. I can well understand why the third needs discussion. Enjoy your new house, definitely hard work moving, hope you're soon settled.

[debjw in reply to AgedCrone]

Hi, all the best. It’s a hard decision.

[debjw in reply to sunnyweek]

Hi I had my second infusion 5 weeks ago.

[Moomin8 in reply to sunnyweek]

Hi sorry to butt in, but if you're able to see my last post you'll see that I'm in the same situation regarding Rituximab and my 3rd Covid vaccine (had my flu jab about 2/3 weeks ago) and managed to get my vaccine this week. I'm due my Rituximab in November, so had to have my vaccine ASAP.

[sunnyweek in reply to Moomin8]

Did you receive a letter about your third vaccine so you could show it at the vaccine centre? I've not had a letter yet so don't think the vaccine centre would give me a third vaccine.

[Moomin8 in reply to sunnyweek]

No, I just printed out the pdf which I have put as a link on my post. But I didn't need it - I was prepared to show it though.

[sunnyweek in reply to Moomin8]

Thank you. I'll see if I can find your post, and if I don't hear in the next week I might try the same.

[Moomin8 in reply to sunnyweek]

Hopefully this will help you find it. Click on my name, it might be quicker

My post

[sunnyweek in reply to Moomin8]

Thank you very kind, I've now printed the letter off. I'm on retuximab and sulphasalazine so will highlight the bit that says retuximab on the letter as sulphasalazine doesn't count. I hope I can get the confidence to explain to them. I haven't received the letter which some people have had about no longer needing to shield, which makes me wonder if I'm still on the NHS vulnerable list.

[Moomin8 in reply to sunnyweek]

Be brave and go for it. The worse that can happen is that they are not well informed and you don't get it that day 🤷🏻‍♀️Print off proof of your Rituximab infusion (I downloaded the letter from my NHS online info) and try. Good luck!

[Moomin8 in reply to sunnyweek]

bbc.co.uk/news/health-58763476

This explains the total chaos!!

[sunnyweek in reply to Moomin8]

Thank you for this. Its confusing me again though, as they seem to be speaking more about transplant and chemotherapy patients. I can see the chaos its causing, but as you say I'm just going to try and see what happens, thank you for your support.

[Moomin8 in reply to sunnyweek]

Just go by the JVCI letter x

[Neonkittie17]

Absolutely must check with your rheumy as I am proof that even with 22 weeks between prior Rtx and first Pfizer I had zero antibodies. It all depends on how fast your B cells repopulate. Mine are slow at times. Rtx blunted my flu and pneumonia even after 8 and 10 weeks.

[AgedCrone in reply to Neonkittie17]

It’s strange how different people react…my Bcells seem to come flying back…especially when they were apparently lysed (killed off) in one fell swoop a couple of weeks after an infusion.I felt really ill for a while..& really needed another infusion ASAP…but of course had to wait..& eventually had it at 51/2 months. Thankfully it has never happened again…..but I haver never managed longer than 7 months between infusions.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to AgedCrone]

I’m told they almost always get zapped off two weeks after. I always feel wiped out totally between month one and two afterwards. Just that Rtx works so incredibly well for me to alleviate arthritis but they have to send a search party for the B cells to get them back. I’ve had my last one anyhow now very end of April.

[AgedCrone in reply to Neonkittie17]

My rheumy reckons mine fade fairly evenly as my RA symptoms creep back with monotonous regularity…this time I could do with one now after 5 months…but I’m going to hang on as long as I’m able.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to AgedCrone]

I got over medicated at one time si was watched vigilantly and sent for at 6 months and then my immunity started to plummet. Side effects, so I hung longer more recently, and went a year 2019/20 due to pandemic but found also I went 14 months first time as they blooped and didn’t get me in so terrible consequences of joint damage and then they wanted me every 6 months but then my nurse wanted longer as she said over medicated and low igG. The last 3 years I’ve had one single pulse which worked perfectly but it takes a couple of years sometimes to adjust your igG.

[AgedCrone in reply to Neonkittie17]

I only have the half dose now…..just one infusion+ antihistamine & paracetamol….no steroid & no Mtx. & 6 years in I’m comfortable with that & although my blood is playing up it’s nothing to do with Rtx thank goodness.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to AgedCrone]

Hope your blood behaves. 🙏🏻 I’d have been on a single pulse earlier if my hospital had gone for that earlier than 2018. IgG gone up from 5.7 to 6.2 in a couple of months so .. yay! Was shocked and so was my rheumy. 6.2 is still low enough to cause bronchials but if it is going in the right direction then good. I’ll think glass half full .. of igG! 🍷😝

[oldtimer]

In the Lancet today an article showing that having Covid & flu injections at the same time is safe and produces an adequate response.