Covid & Flu Vaccinations

[Bailybiscuit]

Can anyone please tell me if you have had both the flu and Covid vaccinations at the same time please. If you have did you suffer any worse side effects from having them at the same time? I have both booked at my GP's but am not happy to have both together as I think this is a first time it has happened and wondered what others think? Also I asked a Biologic nurse whether I should miss a dose or 2 of Humira or Methotrexate and she told me there was no need to . I usually miss 1 week before and 1 week after. Please what are others going to do?

[MaryEmma2]

I've been told both by gp surgery and vaccination centre that this is OK.

[vonniesims in reply to MaryEmma2]

I had both 2 days ago and I'm fine. Did the same last year.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to vonniesims]

That is reassuring to know, thank you.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to MaryEmma2]

Yes I have mine booked but am just worried about the 2 together after reading how lot's of people don't agree with it but hadn't heard if anyone has had them and were ok.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to MaryEmma2]

Yes it does seem very common now, thank you

[Bailybiscuit in reply to MaryEmma2]

It seems a lot of people have had the two together and have been fine.

[weathervane]

I had both on Monday, i had to get them in the same arm as i had a lumpectomy. My arm was a bit sore and i was a bit more tired for a day or two , otherwise ive been grand.

I had the same last year, I was told then to keep moving my arm, I think that might have helped. Hope it goes well for you.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to weathervane]

Thank you, it's good to hear from others who have been ok.

[Runrig01]

last year many got the 2 vaccines together with no ill effect. The guidance issued by the British society of rheumatology and arthritis organisations is to hold MTX for 2 weeks after vaccines. It has been shown to increase the number of antibodies you produce.

arthritis.org/health-wellne...

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Runrig01]

Thank you. In May I was told to leave off Methotrexate 1 week before and 1 week after the injection. I sent a message to the biologic nurses and one replied 2 days ago telling me no need to stop anything, carry on as normal. That just doesn't sound right to me.

[Boxerlady]

Had both of mine together last week and no problems. Usual slightly sore arm and feeling a little tired from the COVID one (which has happened every time) so didn't do Methotrexate injection the next day and might leave off the next one as I've done that before with no problems as my RA is well-controlled.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Boxerlady]

That's good to hear. I was told to not pause anything this time but in May I was told to pause Methotrexate 1 week before and 1 week after.

[Jackie1947]

I did separate them last year but going for both this. Singularly never had a reaction so will see.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Jackie1947]

Same as me, usually singularly but lot's of others seem to have had them together and have been ok. Good luck.

[greynot]

I had both together last year ( one in each arm) with no particularly bad effects, and am booked for the same again shortly.

I'll be missing my MTX the week after as I've done that for previous boosters with no bad effects. My rheumy team is aware as I checked with them before the first time I missed.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to greynot]

I was told to stop Methotrexate 1 week before and 1 week after for other times. This time however the nurse told me to just carry on taking everything.

[Amnesiac3637]

I’ve always had both at the same time when offered and apart from feeling a bit tired and the usual sore arm, I’ve never had any reaction to either vaccination.

You should follow your rheumatology nurse’s advice as she knows better than anyone else what you should do about your drugs and the jabs and has told you there is no need to stop either of them. Best of luck and hope you sail through with no side effects.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Amnesiac3637]

I expect I will follow her advice but do wonder why others are told something different?

[medway-lady in reply to Bailybiscuit]

It may be that when the vaccines were introduced I believe and I certainly was told to stoop meds but then it changed. My first jab was awful but A&E said one of there nurses had also had same reaction and the advice was thought then to be wrong as the effect of RA flaring and the the jab was the problem. So since then I believe that people may have been advised to continue with meds. I definitely was told not to stop but obviously you must be guided by your professional advisers. I hope the effects are minimal for you.x

[Bailybiscuit in reply to medway-lady]

Thank you.

[Amnesiac3637 in reply to Bailybiscuit]

We are all different, we sometimes are on drugs that others aren’t on, our medical needs are complex and all vary so people will be told different things by their clinicians. What makes the difference is that they have your medical notes, they specifically train in this speciality and they know more than anyone else on the site, however helpful everybody is. Go with what you’re advised by your rheumatology team and you can’t go far wrong. 😄

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Amnesiac3637]

I will do, thanks

[medway-lady]

Yes last Saturday in same arm. No problem at all, but a bit of a headache so took paracetamol Sunday morning. That was it.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to medway-lady]

That was good to hear. Thank you

[Wobbies]

Had both together , am on Infliximab and MTX. Just a bit tied the following day.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Wobbies]

Thank you.

[Poshcards]

I had both last year one in each arm, both swelled up, the flu was the worst for over two weeks but apart from that ok, do not take your metho for 2 weeks after them x

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Poshcards]

There's different opinions on leaving Methotrexate off or not.

[Doodlereggie]

Hi I am due to have both jabs today,and had both last year at same time with no really bad side effects,just a sore arm for next day.Am on JAK meds this year so checked jabs were not live vaccine and reassured they are not so ok.Having at g.p surgery and not chemists as they know my meds and ra . Better to be protected as much as possible with our rotten ra,I think!

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Doodlereggie]

Good luck for today

[Doodlereggie in reply to Bailybiscuit]

Thanks .all done.x

[Nuttyshirlz]

I was booked for my covid jab yesterday and hadn’t had invite for my flu shot. Normally get both together but this is new surgery so I hadn’t been asked yet. I got my covid shot she said you normally get flu shot i said I haven’t had your invite but she said I will do it now then you done. You got nothing to worry about you get it in both arms. Because I had my jabs yesterday I give my methz a miss will continue again next Friday

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Nuttyshirlz]

Hope you are ok today.

[Nuttyshirlz in reply to Bailybiscuit]

Yes just feel abit groggy but it’s short lived should be fine by teatime ish lol went to bed with robot arms but that’s gone off now.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Nuttyshirlz]

Hope robot arms don't last too long.

[oldtimer2]

There is little evidence to guide us on this. Some studies have shown a slight reduction in antibody levels when given together, another no difference.

I don't like it much - if you get a sore upper arm then with having them in both arms same day you have both arms with less ability.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to oldtimer2]

Yes 2 sore arms will be a nuisance but if that is all it is then that's good.

[Nyreedw]

I've always been told it's a no as too much on our body bodies, plus if you have a problem they won't know which caused it. Stopped meds around all covid jabs and not to take mtx around flu jab. X

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Nyreedw]

I was told to leave Methotrexate off 1 week before and after but it has changed since May when I had last Covid jab.

[Nyreedw in reply to Bailybiscuit]

I was told to stop all meds round covid vaccines since first 1 one in Jan 2021 and have for all mine. The vaccine needs immune system to be effective so stopping made sense to help give best response. Must do something as I've never had covid, not even when my partner got it x

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Nyreedw]

I know it makes sense and I have done it before. I have read that now they think there isn't much difference staying on the medication or leaving it off. I would never be told anything my mum Rheumatology department if I didn't ask. I'd have thought they could put something on their website.

[Nyreedw in reply to Bailybiscuit]

How hospital did research on it , taking bloods around vaccines, meds and looking at antibodies. I found research backnin July 2020 on British Rheumatologist society and the Lancet and they found we weren't at as high risk as they originally thought. Covid causes Cytokine storms and biologics target cytokine storms in RA. That's why they used them on covid patients in hospital x

[Bailybiscuit in reply to Nyreedw]

That's interesting, thank you.

[wilbertjellyfish]

Last year I had both together, no side effects really and didn’t stop mtx or biologic.

[Bailybiscuit in reply to wilbertjellyfish]

Thank you, seems a lot of people have had both together.