Timing of third vaccination with Actemra

[LemonZest11]

This is not advice but merely an account of how I finally navigated the timing of vaccination 3 in the TCZ cycle, for those who may be in the same boat. Studies are showing that the vaccine is showing efficacy after 1 to 2 weeks. My TCZ jabs are 3.5 weekly, so I went right in the middle at 13 days, enabling a reasonable increase in white cell count after the TCZ and leaving almost 2 weeks before the next one. With no case studies accessible to guide, it's a bit of educated guesswork. 🤞

[Sharitone]

Thank you. I think most of us had had our third vaccinations, but the fourth round is coming up soon!

[LemonZest11 in reply to Sharitone]

Oh really? We’re a bit slow Downunder, only getting the third now. Glad you are all on top of it!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to LemonZest11]

Similar here, I got my third - called a booster - in mid November. But they are now making a big thing about it. The pattern in the UK is different from almost everywhere else.

[Constance13 in reply to PMRpro]

What are the C numbers like in Italy? Ours aren't too bad atm. England is having a dreadful time. Worrying about our family and friends over there.☹️👵🏻

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Constance13]

Suedtirol has been awful - too many people living up mountains who rely on traditional remedies for a bad chest according to a local expert recently! So they won't get jabbed and leave going to the doctor very late too. We have been the Schlusslicht for Italy. There has been quite a wave for the last few weeks but that possibly has reached its breaking phase with far lower numbers the last couple of days though I see today is back up again. But there are a few cases of omicron so it'll probably take off again. As the hospital numbers lag a couple of weeks behind diagnosis, they are only just getting to the borderline for restrictions and it is very likely it will go from yellow to amber next week - they have set the limit low so they don't need to stop as many operations. However - judging by the number of helicopters I've heard, the ski slopes are feeding the orthopaedic numbers! Italy itself is pretty good - and Draghi intends to keep it that way.

[piglette in reply to Constance13]

I do wonder if the England figures look bad because they are encouraging people to do lateral flow tests all the time. The tests are free from the pharmacy or you can order them on line for free too. In fact if you go anywhere people seem to be taking tests.

[Constance13 in reply to piglette]

They don't only 'look bad' Piglette - they ARE bad. I know the medical world are all doing their best but they are losing at the moment.

This new strain is something that is going to be very difficult to control.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

There is a LOT of testing here too - especially in the workplace. And it is only done by trained operators, no self-testing. Believe me - I can't imagine many people shoving the swab far enough up their noses to get a good sample! Their contact tracing is also very good. As Constance says, UK figures don't look bad - they ARE bad. And Italy was getting very upset with daily figures of 5,000 when the UK figures were already 10 times that.