Tocilizumab & Covid vaccine

[Bachblues]

I seem to remember that I delayed my Toc jab when I had my Phizer jab. Is that correct? If so, by a day or a week? Getting booster today when I’d normally inject Toc.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it were me I'd ask to miss the jab - but that is up to your rheumy to decide really. It takes 10-14 days for the immune response to develop, it isn't an immediate thing and is ongoing for a couple of weeks after getting the jab.

[Bachblues in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks for speedy reply. Will stop this week's injection.

[DeepThought2]

Dear Bachblues, during my first (Biontec/Pfizer) jab I did not stop TCZ injections but when I had my second one I stop one time (so extended from weekly to be-weekly injection just once), as suggested by my Rheumy - I got tested SARS-CoV2 specific antibodies later and they were very high - so vaccination seemed to work - So one week pause is ok I think - and will still keep your TCZ at a level that keeps the autoimmune response at bay.

[Bachblues in reply to DeepThought2]

Thanks for this reinforcement of point of view, most helpful. Will have a week's break from Toc.