Tocilizumab patients and the COVID Vaccine

[SheffieldJane]

My Rheumatologist has let me know that it is fine for me to have the COVID Vaccine and to continue having my Tocilizumab injections. I am also on 10 mgs of Prednisalone.

I have Giant Cell Arteritis/Large Vessel Vasculitis.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

good news.🌸

[Koalajane]

That is good. Thanks for letting us know

[Smokygirl]

Thanks for the info Jane. Just hope it doesn’t make us flare. Xxxx

[Coffeebeans]

Good to know. Let's wait for those phonecalls 😊

[Devoid]

That’s great to hear , be interesting to see if everyone’s consultant agrees

[SheffieldJane in reply to Devoid]

I trust her. She is a prominent figure in PMR & GCA.

[Devoid in reply to SheffieldJane]

That’s good to know I haven’t got a consultant that I feel I could say that about

[SheffieldJane in reply to Devoid]

It is Sarah Mackie, she is often quoted on here and is involved in a lot of research. I am so lucky to have her. PMRPro recommended her.

[Devoid in reply to SheffieldJane]

I have read the government information earlier and that said the immune suppressed may not get the same benefits from the vaccine so would still need to be very careful. Even if that is the case I would still have the vaccine because I don’t think people on our treatment have been in the trials but hopefully it would give some protection. What are your thoughts?

[SheffieldJane in reply to Devoid]

I read that as well. I think that they are probably most concerned with cancer patients whose immunity has been practically shut down. It is possible that our protection maybe less but I think that it will be better than nothing.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Devoid]

It's the same as with the flu jab - some protection is better than none! Once the immune system has had some practice with a safe vaccine, it can only respond better to the real thing.

[yogabonnie]

that is good to know Jane... tell me again when you got the GCA. how long you had had the PMR. ? sorry this has happened to you... glad you are back to 10mg of prednisone and ON THE MEND!!!

[SheffieldJane in reply to yogabonnie]

I got PMR diagnosed in February 2016 ( it took a while - months maybe) and GCA/LVV in February 2020 - possibly late too.xx

[yogabonnie in reply to SheffieldJane]

ugh to it all. BUT you are a bright light here!! keep on taking good care.

[SheffieldJane]

So are you Bonnie! Take care too. X

[MsDirecto]

I, too, have GCA and take pred plus montly infusions of TCZ. Dr Dasgupta talked about taking the vaccine at the end of his video conference last week. He, too, said to take it. We may not get as robust an immune response, but it's better than no response. He was quite emphatic: "Get it NOW. ASAP!" Here in the US, Dr. Anthony Fauci and another infectious disease doctor had a TV "town hall", taking call-in questions. One of them covered people like us, and Dr. Fauci, too, said to take the vaccine. It may not keep us from getting infected, but it should keep us from becoming really ill.

[SuZuS]

I live in the states... Connecticut. My local rheumatologist and my specialist in NYC also told me the same.

They both said Covid vaccine should not cause a problem.

I have just completed a full year on Actemra injections.

Biweekly now.

Quick background for all :

Diagnosed with LVV/Aortitus November 2019.

(2) small descending Aortic Dissections.

16 months slow taper of prednisone ended in October 2020.

I’m currently on (5) other meds as well,

Rosuvastin 40 mg, Losartan 100mg, Cardevilol, Amlopidine, and hydrochlorothiazide.

But happy to know I will be ok to Vaccinate.

I trust my docs.

I will greatly look forward to my turn.