Travel Vaccinations

[grumpygirl]

Hi. I have already emailed my Rheumatology Team but thought I would also ask for others experiences. I am considering travelling to countries which recommend vaccinations for things like Polio, Diphtheria, Hep A and B, Cholera, Tetanus etc. Now, I have had some of these in the past but longer than 10 years ago and before I was diagnosed with RA. I am on a Biologic and a couple of Dmards. Has anyone else had these vaccinations while on Biologics or JAK inhibitors or were they advised against? If so did you stop your meds for a while or carry on as normal and how did the vaccinations affect you - if at all?

[AgedCrone]

if I were you, I would first speak to your Rheumatology Nurse because rules change all the time….then depending on the airline you are using - ask if they have a travel clinic who will advise you?

It is basically no live vaccines, but depending on the drugs you are on there may be other restrictions on you

But most importantly, do get them in good time before you travel, you don’t want to be travelling with a sore arm or any other nasty effects.

[medway-lady]

Your GP will probably have a travel service. Give them a ring because some can’t be done together with others. Enjoy your travels x

[HappykindaGal]

Call a specialist travel vax clinic. Most GP practices do not offer this service any longer since the global sum was ditched and a practice nurse knowledge is very limited in this area anyway. Travel health nurses have specialist training. My company supports travel health clinics hence my knowledge in this area so I’m not talking out my backside 🤔😂 One of the largest is Citydocs and they’re often in pharmacies etc…so I’d Google your area and see what you can find. DTP, Hep A and Typhoid are pretty standard. Hep B isn’t though so I assume you’re travelling somewhere more exotic and a specialist clinic could be useful.

[Scottishlad]

Generally if you are on biologics then you can't get live vaccines. Depending on how well controlled your RA it might be possible to pause your RA treatment to get the vaccines. This should only be done on the advice of your Rheumatology team.

[kristapb99]

I was traveling to South America a couple years ago and had most of these. As you, I had many of them previously but not in the last 10 years. I don't think any of those you listed are live vaccines, which I understand we should avoid. I did not have cholera or polio.

I take a biologic and methotrexate. I did visit a travel medicine specialist, and she recommended the others you mentioned. I had no problems with them. I was advised by my rheumi to hold off on the methotrexate for a week after the vaccines but to continue the biologic as usual. I had no problems with any of them (other than a sore arm).

Enjoy your travels!!

[grumpygirl in reply to kristapb99]

Thanks that's really reassuring. The biologic I am on is one of those that leaves the system quite quickly so it would be quite straightforward to stop for a while. I haven't heard back from my Rheumy team yet despite chasing but the NHS can't give me an appointment anyway until only three weeks before we go so just have to cross fingers and hope for the best.