I'm on Niraparib and the oncologist says to have a vaccine anyway.Not sure how well it work, given the drug lowers the immune system, but what I really want to know is whether you feel worse having a vaccine while on a PARP. If anyone on here has had a vaccine and is on a PARP, can you say which vaccine you had and what your reaction was please, especially if you had the Oxford A-Z one.
Miriam
Hi Miriam. I’m also on Niraparib ( 100mg) & had the Pfizer jab just over a fortnight ago.
I didn’t feel great for about a week ( which is fairly common Niraparib or not I understand) but nothing major. Back to feeling more like myself now.
Decided I’d rather have the jab ( & any side effects which affected me) to help keep Covid away than get Covid itself ( & possibly be very poorly with it).
Hope you do what you decide is best for you.
Take good care xx
I'm having mine on Monday. Can't have the Pfizer as I have already had a severe anaphalatic shock so will be having the Oxford A-Z one. Do you have yours booked? I'm on Olaparib.
It might be this weekend - been waiting for the AZ one only partly for allergy reasons, nurse is going to call me tomorrow to say if they've used all the Pfizer up and have reverted to AZ. Apparently, as soon as they get a batch of Pfizer, they have to use those first.
M
I’m on 200 Niraparib and had my AZ covid jab 23rd Jan. The only thing I had was a headache, but they advised me to take paracetamol as soon as I could after leaving whether I had a headache or not! It wasn’t unbearable, probably a 2 or 3 /10! x
That's encouraging thanks - I'm only asking cos I'm sure I saw a post a few days ago from two people on a PARP who had a vaccine and felt unwell for a week or more, as I've just noticed the first respondent said here...
M
I suppose it’s like any side effects, some get worse than others. Tell yourself you’ll just get the headache, take some paracetamol and good luck. Keep an eye on it though as let someone know if you need to xx
I'm.on olaparib and had the AZ vaccine this morning. I'm feeling pretty rough at the.moment and have taken to my bed. Similar and a bit worse to how I felt after the flu vaccine. I don't have a temperature though, no muscle aching or anything else, just fatigue. I'm taking paracetamol which seems to help.
Hopefully that will pass quickly - I;d be interested to hear how you feel ongoing...
Miriam
Hi Miriam, I slept ok and feeling a wee bit better this morning. Still a bit zonked but hopefully that will improve a bit today.
UPDATE: as the day has gone by I have felt it lift and I would now say I am feeling pretty normal.
Hi Miriam I had the Oxford A-Z at 2pm Monday by midnight I had a very bad headache and in the morning a temp of 39.2. I was sure it was the vaccine so not worried. Took paracetamol and slept all day Tuesday. Then it was gone and I felt normal except for a bit of a dull ache in my arm. That has gone now too. I was surprised to get that reaction as I had Covid in October. I’m good now though.
If your oncologist is encouraging ( mine was) go and have it. Covid is not a better alternative I can tell you.
Yes, in response to your final comment, I do recall that you actually had Covid relatively recently, I see you mention October, so that's, what 4 months back? If that's correct, that would explain why you had the reaction you did to the vaccine, rather than it being related to the PARP... And a response like that means you can be pretty sure you have antibodies... In such circumstances, there is some debate as to whether people in your position (previously infected, and then a first dose of the vaccine) actually need the second dose at all.
Miriam
I haven't had the vaccine yet. Apparently cancer doesn't swing eligibility and I'm not 65 yet so i have to wait for the next phase. This all sucks
Although I am classed as clinically vulnerable, the vaccine has been offered because I'm 70. I watched a ZDoggMD youtube video last night where he was conversing with Dr. Marty Makary, and they were beefing about the apparently random rollout of vaccines in the US - it seems there's no real and solid plan drawn up for allocating vaccines via age or vulnerability over there. They mentioned a 24 year old beauty technician who got the vaccine because she worked with the public, while many healthcare workers haven't had it yet... Over here, we are only getting first doses of vaccine and then waiting 3 months or more for the second, instead of 3 or 4 weeks apart, so having one shot means it changes nothing about my life - will still need to mask and shield until 4 weeks after the second dose, which means the end of May. If I thought the Janssen one was going to be available soon, I'd probably wait for that one because it only needs one shot... but its not going to be soon, not even sure its been approved in the US yet, never mind here. So, we carry on as we have been for quite a while yet, vaccine or no vaccine...
Miriam
Hi, I’m on 300mg of Niraparib (about 7 months now) & have to say I don’t really get any side effects at all. I’ve never needed sickness meds or anything else. I had the Pfizer vaccine just over 2 weeks ago. The only side effect was a slightly tender arm for an hour or so. Good luck
I'm 4 months into niraparib. Had first Pfizer dose last Sunday. Sore arm on Monday, nothing else. I don't have adverse effects after flu vaccine either. One dose of Pfizer vaccine gives up to 90% immunity after 3 weeks. Still going to be careful as no vaccine is 100% effective even in those with intact immune systems. I was treated in the extremely clinically vulnerable group which includes everyone on parps and most chemo regimens.
Hi Miriam, I am on the parp Rucaparib and had a Pfizer vaccination last Monday. I have felt fine thankfully. I hope that things go well for you. x
Hi, I am on Olaparib and had my 1st Pfizer vaccine on Monday. No side effects except for pain at site of injection. I checked with my Oncology team first and they told me my bloods were ok so go ahead . I've also just had a letter from Velindre Cancer Centre offering the Pfizer vaccine to all its eligible patients.Your consultant will know from your regular blood checks whether your immune system is too compromised to have the jab, so check with them first.
Personally I feel this is the first step to me getting back to as normal a life as possible, while living with cancer. X
Thanks. Onco said weeks back to have the vaccination when its offered... I can see my white cells and neutrophils from the bloods done Monday last aren't exactly bright and bouncy, but they're not extremely low. Still waiting for the appointment though, she should be calling me today fingers crossed.
M
Wish you well, Jan x
I had the AZ vaccine 2 weeks agoAm on Rucaparib. Felt a bit shivery the next morning and had a slight headache. Apart from that ok
I’m on 400 mg Olaparib a day (plus a trial drug) and had the A-Z vaccination exactly a week ago today. I had a slight headache for the rest of the day and a sore arm at the injection site (sufficient to wake me each time I turned over that night). Faded away by the end of the second day.
Great, thanks so much for responding. I think I might be getting the vaccine on Sunday, unless there's a lot of snow...
Miriam
I'm not on that drug now I was before but I hunt axon now and my doctor wants me to take the vaccine to
Olaparib hasn’t worked for me . Anyone had this happen and had success with another PARP?
Flu and Covid vaccine 
Fermented wheat germ extract and parp inhibitors
gemzar and parp inhibitor
Update on parp inhibitor treatment - good news!
