covid vaccine and methotrexate injections

[Gladjake]

due to have covid and flu jabs sat…had conflicting views on whether or not to miss methotrexate injection (for RA ) read the covid jabs work better if you miss for 2 weeks after but don’t want to risk a flare ,any thoughts on this please

Thanks x

[Madmusiclover]

have a look at the FAQs here: nras.org.uk/resource/inform...

One is about if you should stop your drugs or not.

[nomoreheels]

I've not done it before but I stopped MTX for 2 weeks after my booster this time… & regretted it as far as my RD was concerned even though I’m reasonably well controlled. It's such a personal thing, one may be alright but another may not. Don't know if it's made any difference to how I'll respond to the vaccine but I'm only just starting to get some relief a fortnight after re-starting injecting MTX. Interestingly my OA raged too, so do wonder if what I've read recently has some bearing, that MTX may ease OA symptoms. I didn’t have my flu jab at the same time, that was done a couple of days before.

Could you ask your Rheumy team? They are the ones who know your history RD wise.

[Knip in reply to nomoreheels]

Stopped mine this time, but my joints and pain levels are higher because of it. It's a catch 22! I will see how I go before deciding what to do next time. I am to have the Shringix jab very soon and am wondering about that. Because it is inactivated, I'm guessing it won't be necessary. Does anyone know how it works? K.

[nomoreheels in reply to Knip]

It is, though could be worth it for most to have a better response to the vaccine. I would think the same applies to Shingrix but as I've never had it I’m only guessing so best you ask.

[Neonkittie17]

British Medical Journal’s advice:

“Conclusions A temporary MTX discontinuation for 2 weeks after vaccination improves the immunogenicity of seasonal influenza vaccination in patients with RA without increasing RA disease activity.”

I’ve been advised by my immunologist to pause my biologic med and Mtx for a few weeks (one week before and two after) to have my Covid booster (last weekend) and my flu and pneumonia (next week.) I’m cautious re the pausing and so are my consultants as Riruximab scuppered all my vaccines last year.

You could ask your rheumy for a “functional antibodies test” after the flu vaccine as that’s how they discovered my flu and pneumonia vaccines didn’t work. My rheumy recommended I have that done.

[Gladjake in reply to Neonkittie17]

thanks to you all for advice I’ve taken it all on board x

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Gladjake]

Good luck 💗

[Leics]

My rheumy said if you inject Mtx on a Tuesday then try and get your vaccination on a Friday said as mtx is in your system then a few days either side would help. I’m not controlled with RA yet so wouldn’t want to pause really. I had a pneumonia jab recently and have a severely compromised immune system and I have to say it set me back. Immunology gave me the pneumonia jab and they were unconcerned about Mtx but did ask me several times if I’d had any steroids recently. So very individual it seems.

[GinnyE]

First two covid vaccines I didn't stop methotrexate but I always pause my methotrexate for two weeks now as I did antibody tests and they shot up when I'd paused the methotrexate.

[Ascidian in reply to GinnyE]

Same here

[BoneyC]

I made the decision to stop MTX for 2 weeks after Covid jabs (all 6) but never stopped it for Flu jabs - maybe I should? Who knows, nobody tells you these things, it's a bit trial and error.

[Florida1959]

I would think your methotrexate injection is much more important than a Covid injection, which really affects your immunity

[Gladjake in reply to Florida1959]

thanks to you all again for responses.

My grandaughter who came to see me yesterday tested positive today😩 no symptoms just does a test to be on safe side

I’m negative at moment so fingers crossed ok to have jabs tomorrow x

[Scottishlad]

My vaccines were on Wednesday, my Cimzia injection was due on Thursday with my Methotrexate tablets due on Sunday. My consultant's advice was postpone the Cimzia injection for a week but carry on as normal with the methotrexate.

[wilbertjellyfish]

i never stopped for any of my vaccines. I had COVID last week, second time, next to no symptoms so am assuming the vaccines have worked really well.

[Hollyhock123]

I haven’t stopped any meds before or after when I had previous jabs and reacted badly to jab 1 (AZ) & 3(Pfizer) but nothing for jabs 2 (AZ) & 4 (Moderna). Who knows how or why react 🤷🏻‍♀️ However this time my consultant has said no benepali as due to take on day of jab 5 alongside flu jab and then no methotrexate until 14 days clear so per the British Medical Journal advice. I’ll do that as my last jab was end of January. I opted not to have the early summer one as I had travel vaccines then. Got both Covid jab and flu this morning.