RSV Vaccine and Methotrexate

[Hidcote]

I have booked my RSV vaccine at the surgery for two weeks time. I have just started injecting methotrexate. I have read that the Covid vaccine is more effective if one pauses the methotrexate for a week. Is the same true for RSV.? The vaccination is on a Thursday and I inject on a Friday.

I have checked that it is not a live vaccine

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Usual advice is to pause for 2 weeks after any vaccine -

Immunogenicity impairment varies with different types of vaccines. Pausing methotrexate 2 weeks post-vaccination may boost immunogenicity.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is the 2 weeks after the vaccine that is critical when the body is developing the immune response to the vaccine. I would definitely skip the next 2 after the jab. The original research was done on the flu vaccine and they also later looked at the Covid jab - the same applies so it is reasonable to assume that it will apply to all vaccines.

[Hidcote in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMR Pro and Dorset Lady

I might try and postpone the vaccine so I get more established with MX. It looks as if the autumn will be a bit messed up with the MX with all the vaccines.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidcote]

Might be a good idea... better than stopping and starting.. and it takes a while to be effective

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidcote]

But make sure your get them fitted in before late October, especially the flu, because that's when the season starts and they take a couple of weeks to be effective.

[Hidcote]

I think a pause is best but there will be a lot of pauses in late autumn with flu and Covid jabs to come.

Thanks for the help. It is such a help you are both there.

[Hidcote in reply to Hidcote]

Might try to have RSV with flu. Don’t want to double up the Covid which caused me to flare badly last year. On Rod Hughes’ advice missed out the spring one.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidcote]

Personal opinion, but I’d not have both together, especially if you had an issue previously. It might be a bit of a faff with MTX, but better to leave a couple of weeks between them and give body time to recover.

[Debella]

hi, l can honestly say l have had no problems with methotrexate injections, my rheumatologist has now increased my dose and still no problems, l have been able to reduce the pred from 15mg to 9/8 and am now starting to reduce my moon face. I have also been watching a lot of podcasts on YouTube regarding vitamins and healing the gut by eating clean foods, it’s well worth investigating as there is a massive problem with eating anything processed as it increases inflammation , l hope this is of help to you x

[Knip]

I'm feeling a bit peeved, mostly with myself for not checking re RSV vaccine and Methotrexate. I had my vaccine last weekend, had Methtorexate in the evening and repeated that yesterday, before it suddenly came to me that it might not have been advisable. No one mentioned it to me at the GP surgery whilst it was being done, even though they checked my medications and asked about previous reactions to other vaccines. Has my RSV been in vain, or might I still get some protection from it? As I said, I am annoyed with myself, but also a bit that it wasn't brought up in the surgery.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Knip]

DIfficult to say how much difference it will have made. There is likely to have been some response but almost certainly less.

However - I read an article this week that actually means you can take action yourself. Have you got small people you are really close to? Hugs and cuddles and slobbers sort of close to?

RSV is unlike Covid and flu in not being spread by coughs and sneezes. It is spread by getting bodily fluids on your skin and then transferring it to your face. So not getting too close, not kissing and having yucky hands all over your face is advisable and everyone washing their hands frequently essential.

[Knip in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your reassuring reply. My grandchildren are past the age to slobber and kiss, except for a peck on the cheek, and are too young to give me grandchildren for several years yet, so from that point of view I'm OK. Guess it's a case of looking on the positive side, that it can do no harm, and may do some good.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Knip]

Same here - early to mid-20s though. The step grandson gets married next April and his FIL to be seems determined he's getting grandkids asap. I do hope not ... The other 2 are unlikely to provide in the foreseeable future.

[Knip in reply to PMRpro]

I doubt that the FIL will have much say in it! 😅

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Knip]

Dunno - very controlling of his daughter! If daddy wants ...

[Hidcote in reply to Knip]

I don’t know about the RSV vaccine. The Rheumatology nurse phoned me up about the Covid jab and said the research showed you got better protection if you stopped the methotrexate after the jab for the first month but over time it evened up. As I have relapsing PMR and only just started to take methotrexate, I have decided not to pause.