To have the 6th Covid Vaccine or not?

[CarolyneN]

I booked my Covid vaccine appointment for this Sunday but my bloods have come back with too low WBC 2.7, and low Neutrophils 1.3. Rheumatology cannot return my call until 16th May, which coincidentally is same day as my appointment. I’m travelling to Canada in 30th May & wanted the vaccine a few weeks before this but now I don’t know if I should wait a few weeks for WBC & Neutrophils to ride a bit before starting back on Methotrexate & Surilamab. If anyone can give me helpful advice I would be grateful please? Caroline

[Neonkittie17]

I’m sorry we can’t give that sort of medical advice here. I have no idea tbh if too low WBC means you should not have a Covid vaccine. Can you phone your GP practice manager? They may be able to ask your GP or an experienced practice nurse to phone you re the low white blood cell results and having your vaccine, but they will likely say ask your rheumy re when to restart your RA meds post vaccine and post low WBC blood results. Good luck.

[CarolyneN in reply to Neonkittie17]

thanks for reply. The GP can’t give me an appointment for 2 weeks, unbelievable! Just wondered if anyone else on here has had or is having a similar experience?

[Neonkittie17 in reply to CarolyneN]

Sorry, you can’t get an answer from your medical people. Infuriating. Is it a larger vaccine centre you plan to go? Mine have been so far and they had a lead sister in charge who knew so much about meds and vaccines and when you could have them etc., so maybe you might get lucky there and see someone who is knowledgeable enough to help you. Also if there’s a phone number for the vaccine centre you could phone them and ask about your queries in advance of going. I did re me going out of synch with most of my vaccines.

[Bails67]

it maybe a inconvenience going but your vaccine centre should know.Mine even phoned to check 48 hours before I went to make sure I was eligible, you maybe able to ask them if you get the call.

[Ummlulu]

I can’t give you medical advice but only tell you what my rheumy nurse advised me. I’m taking methotrexate and imraldi which is a biologic. She said that it was advisable to avoid the biologic around the time of the vaccine. My wbc is low too just dipping below normal range. I had the booster 8 days after my regular fortnightly injection of imraldi then delayed the next dose by a week thus giving my body more of a chance to develop some antibodies. They say the vaccine takes 2 weeks to work.

I didn’t stop methotrexate as it’s not I biologic and nurse didn’t seem so concerned about that interfering with booster.

It’s hard to get advice from anyone as it’s still an emerging field of knowledge with insufficient data!

Hope you enjoy your trip!

[Runrig01 in reply to Ummlulu]

That is actually the opposite of the advice by the British society of Rheumatology, who recommend stable patients withhold 2 weeks of methotrexate after vaccination. Their study showed that in doing so, patients developed 2.5 x the antibodies of those who continued. The advice is because biologics only target a specific cytokine and not the whole immune system, that that can continue, unless your specialist has other concerns.

MTX

[aliplayspiano]

I can’t give you any medical advice but I have low white cell count and low neutrophils most of the time, caused by tocilizumab. I wasn’t told to hold off on the covid vaccine and have just had my 7th one.

[Runrig01]

unable to advise, but I would attend the vaccination centre, if you’ve been unable to get a response from any health professional. I would have thought that with it not being a live vaccine, then you would be able to continue, but that’s just my personal view on it. I would definitely avoid live vaccines, which is standard advice for those of us on immunosuppressants

[RAGuy]

I think the best thing for you to do is speak to your local pharmacist or the much maligned 111 service. They have been of great assistance to myself. Try midmorning rather than 1st thing.

[CarolyneN]

thank you for all your suggestions. I really appreciate knowing of your different experiences.

I’ve postponed the vaccine for a few days & will be having another blood test before it.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to CarolyneN]

Good luck and hope you get someone medical to advise you. 💗