covid jab ritixumab?

[gilox]

I am lucky enough to be having a ritixumab infusion on 5th October & have been advised not to have the flu injection for a month after the 2nd infusion which is the 28th October, have just been told I can have the covid jab, but wondering if the same rule applies? Can anyone help?

[Neonkittie17]

I would speak to your rheumatologist or biologics nurse/RA nurse as it’s supposed to be you have your Covid vaccine a month before your first of the duo of Rtx infusions or it should be quite some time after your second Rtx. Your B cells are quickly depleted (72 hours after) after the Rtx infusion so there’s very little if anything to mount an immune response to the vaccines. I was told 6 months’ wait for the Covid vaccine after Rtx as that’s usually the standard time the B cells start to first repopulate (but l am more like 12-14 months so it was little surprise I had zero antibodies.) I’d talk with you rheumy and see what they advise as they might think having the vaccine at any time is a bonus which is what they told me but original advice by the BSR was 6 months and other rheumatology experts said the same online. Good luck.

(BSR British Society of Rheumatology)

[bpeal1]

Speak to your rheumatology team. I have been told to wait 4 weeks after Rituximab for both flu and covid vaccinations, however, opinion varies greatly. If possible it might be best to get it before the Rituximab infusion, but again take advice from your team. I think rheumatologists also give different advice to different patient - there are lots of different factors to weigh up.

[weathervane]

im having rituximab, the 7th of Oct , i was told to wait 8 weeks before having covid vaccine. I will check when i see rheumy that it’s still the case .

[emmajj1971]

its normally 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after to have vaccinations or and operation with rituximab as they are not live vaccines but as everyone is getting different advice do double check with your own team

[cathie]

they advise a four week interval between rituximab infusion and the jags. You should be able to rearrange.

[KaysDad]

I believe that the Octave study showed that covid vaccinations within 6 months of Rituximab treatment were ineffective - but ask an expert

[bpeal1 in reply to KaysDad]

I think it was less effective rather than ineffective. However, for those of us requiring Rituximab every 6 months waiting six months before vaccinations isn’t an option. Therefore, it is a case of weighing things up and making a compromise.

[KaysDad in reply to bpeal1]

Yes, I think the term they used was 'sub-optimal'. Anyway, as my first 2 infusions were within the 6 month period, I had extra boosters and have now had 5 doses.

[bpeal1 in reply to KaysDad]

Me too. Am waiting a few weeks before the seasonal booster as had Rituximab last week.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to KaysDad]

Six months is what my biologics rheumy, rheumy nurse and immunologist all told me. Six months still wasn’t enough for me to get B cells back after Rtx to mount an immune response last year to the vaccines.

[Angels54]

Get right advice 1 st

[Nik8210]

as i get 6 monthly infusions we stick the covid shots in the middle all cases will be slightly different but a call ur team should fix it

[gilox]

thank you all for replying will call rheumatology tomorrow! Again many thanks.