Coronavirus vaccines and immunosuppressants

[boon]

A family member is taken immunosuppresant medication - Mycophenolate. Shes really worried that she can't have any of the Covid vaccines. Ive been looking online but can't find any information on this. Has anybody seen anything?

www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-55022288?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQHKAFQCrABIA%3D%3D#aoh=16060694999875&amp_ct=1606069506466&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s

haven't read much about it bit it's being worked on.

Thank you. I did see that on the news yesterday. I just can't find anything that says that the current vaccines eg Pfizer cannot be given to those who are immunosuppressed.

I think the current vaccines can't be given to immune compromised people but scientists are working on one that can be. It will just be a bit later than the current vaccines as it's only in the early stages of trials.

@Racoonworld

I think the current vaccines can't be given to immune compromised people but scientists are working on one that can be. It will just be a bit later than the current vaccines as it's only in the early stages of trials.

Oh wow I did not know that

But then those of us who are immunosuppressed are in one of the first groups to have it...so... We can't ?

I can't anyway for other reasons but that would be a bit weird if the most at risk people can't have the vaccine.

I don't know about Covid but when I am on immunosuppressants and strongly encouraged to get other vaccines. Flu annually and I've had the lifetime pneumonia one.

I'm on mycophenolate. I asked my consultant about this he said it basically comes down to whether or not the vaccines are dead or not. We can have dead only. He mentioned that they have been told as a unit they will be provided data in the new year on the vaccines so they can make a decision then on whether it's safe. But being immunosuppresed I've been told as long as vaccine is dead you can have. The only thing is your immune system may not produce as strong a response but he said any response you get it better than nothing

Me and dh were talking about this earlier as he's immunosuppressed due to Crohn's medication. I don't think the covid vaccines will be live so hopefully he will be able to have it.

So am glad to see this thread as I have been wondering about this too. My Mum has CLL (in remission). Can she have the current Covid vaccines or does she need the special one?

@kimlo

www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-55022288?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQHKAFQCrABIA%3D%3D#aoh=16060694999875&_ct=1606069506466&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s

haven't read much about it bit it's being worked on.

This is about people who don’t have a functioning immune system which would mean that they couldn’t produce an immune response to a vaccine. I’m on immunosuppressants and I have the flu jab so presumably am able to produce enough of a response for it to work, so I’d expect to be able to have the Covid one as long as it’s dead which I believe is the case.

Following - I’m also on immune suppressants

There’s a difference between being immunosuppressed by medication and having an immune system deficiency.
As long as it’s not a live vaccine, you should be good. :)

My mums on steroids for an auto immune disease. Her consultant has similarly told her that so long as it’s a dead vaccine, she should be able to have it. I’ve not heard any of them are live but a couple of them are new types of vaccine, so 🤷🏼‍♀️ I really hope my mum can have it, I can’t wait for a world where I’m not terrified me or my children could give her a potentially deadly virus 😭 I worry constantly .. (I distance but she refuses to allow children too. We meet regularly for walks as is allowed, her mental health is fragile & it helps a lot).

I've been looking into this as the above article was the first I'd heard about it 😕

I know there is work being done to develop dead vaccines so they are definitely on the way.

I'm also on immune suppressants and my consultant agreed with others unthread.

If the vaccine is not a LIVE one, we'll be able to have it.

It's different than those with immune defiency

I’m on low dose immunosuppressants for IBD and had a routine hospital appointment last week, the first check up this year. Just to reassure people, when I said I was worried about Covid due to being immunosuppressed he said the data has been coming in for the last 8 months and I shouldn’t be too worried. It has put my mind at ease a little x

@Fleshlumpeater I’m on them for IBD too, that’s really good to know. I’d never been overly worried as I followed the BSG guidelines, and because of that chose not to shield. Now I’m waiting for my 2 year olds Covid test results to come back and I suddenly feel doomed that if she is positive I will catch it and worried I won’t fare well!

Thanks for your responses. Feeling reassured.