Using COVID-19 vaccines in patient taking immunosuppressive medicines

[Jontie]

I thought this might be of interest:

sps.nhs.uk/articles/using-c...

[SheffieldJane]

It is Jontie. Thank you.

[Conundrum]

Thank you

[Devoid]

Very interesting, thanks for posting, it really is getting that if you need information look on here first,

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Good one - thank you!!

I wonder how many GPs who forced their patients off pred because of Covid read this:

"If additional steroids are required to control inflammatory disease, that may take priority, as a flare can also worsen the risk from COVID-19"

[Jontie in reply to PMRpro]

Exactly.

[Bonnie-ma]

Thank you for this very helpful article on steroids and vaccines. It mentions that a person on elective list for injection of methylpred. should defer treatment until after the vaccine. My question is: does anyone know if a person has already had an IM Pred injection prior to the vaccine because the vaccine will not be offered for another couple of months, will this still compromise the effect of the Covid vaccine? I have not seen any information about this side of the coin. Many thanks for considering this.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bonnie-ma]

If it was an intramuscular depotmedrol injection it usually has declined to a low daily amount by a couple of months and a new one would be due. If it was around/into a joint, it will have washed out sooner than that so it probably wouldn't make much difference. However - it isn't any different from most of us being on daily oral pred - I think it is just an ideal rather than a necessity.

[Bonnie-ma in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you very much for this info.