Covid jab - when to have it

[Florrie2]

I’m wondering when in their chemo cycle people have had their Covid jab? The oncology nurse said to have it as close as possible to my next chemo (before obviously) so my immune system is at its best. I’m worried it will affect my blood test results or I’ll get ill and have to postpone my chemo. I presume that is the risk I’ll have to take.

[Lara1]

Hi Florrie,

Thanks for posting this question! I’ve asked myself the same question. Unfortunately I don’t have an answer, but I tend to agree with your nurse’s advice. The worse off your immune system is, the more likely you'll be to experience side effects. Do you have any neutro/lympho- penia overall or only after your infusions? I’d look into ways of tackling that. Another idea is to compare the safety profiles of the different Covid vaccines and choose one with less side effects if possible. And then, if you can’t décide on a vaccine, there are antiviral drugs available now. Take care, L.

[Florrie2 in reply to Lara1]

Thanks Lara. My risk is only after the infusions. I can’t choose a covid drug (am in the UK) as we get whatever the doctor has. I’m going to speak to my oncology nurse again. When I’ve had Covid, it’s been really bad twice and not too bad once, so to have it bad with a compromised immune system would be scary. I’m hardly seeing anyone but the last time I caught it was at the vet’s a couple of weeks after an infusion so it’s scared me a bit how easily I caught it.

[Phoebe1962]

Hi Florrie, I had the same question a few months ago and was advised that I could either have it close to my next treatment or after my treatments had finished. I opted to wait until after my treatments. I’m glad I did because it knocked me off my feet for a few days in spite of me taking paracetamol before during and after the jab as advised. The side effects lasted about 4 days.

[Towergirl]

I’ve been told by consultant to not have the live covid jabs and not to have with flu jab . Leave a week between.

[Trickysite in reply to Towergirl]

What is a live covid jab, please? EMMA

[Florrie2 in reply to Trickysite]

Covid jabs aren’t live. Live jabs have a small amount of a virus in them so your immune system works to fight it. I think examples are measles and chickenpox.

[Florrie2]

I’ve spoken to my oncology nurse. I’m to have my pre-chemo blood test. They will check my white blood cell count is okay. I’ll have the Covid jab the next day then chemo 4 days later. Hoping I’m not ill from it! In which case, chemo is delayed by a week which I really don’t want but neither do I want covid with a low immune system.

[Floodal]

Hi florrie I have had a Covid vaccine each time they call for me my only advice would be dont have the Covid and flu on the same day as It made me really unwell for a few days