Vaccine for thyroxine takers

[Lizbiz89]

Just wondering if anyone knows what the general consensus is for thyroxine takers and the Covid vaccine? I had a total thyroidectomy 7 years ago due to a cancer scare which turned out to be just for precautionary measures. Apart from that fit and healthy. However I wouldn't want to take something that would react badly with the medication I'm on. Is anyone else in the same position? I'm only 31 so I doubt I'll get it in hurry anyway but it would be good to know.

Great question Liz, really hoping someone knows the answer to this. Same as you, I had a total thyroidectomy 2 years ago, which is now managed well with Levothyroxine.

Place marking as I really need to know too. I’ve researched until my eyes are blurry, and my GP didn’t seem to know

I don't know the answer yet but i may be able to find out sooner than you. My 82 year old mum takes thyroxine so i'm guessing at her age she'll be high up the vaccine list. My sister (in her 50s) and my niece are also on thyroxine.

I don't see why it would be a problem

The vaccine's going to interfere a lot less than having COVID. I'm on thyroxine, and hopefully getting the jab at work this week.

Is it safe for me to have the vaccine?

Like all vaccines, the Covid-19 vaccines are subject to rigorous testing from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This body has given its approval for the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine to be rolled out in the UK from the second week of December 2020. Clinical trials have been carried out on thousands of patients and have shown no serious side effects. As with other vaccination programmes, there is no known reason why someone with a thyroid disorder should not have the vaccine. Since thyroid disorders are common it is certain that the clinical trials have included patients with thyroid diseases and no significant adverse effects have been observed. We await the full publication of the trial results to find out in detail about the patients with thyroid disorders that have been studied in these trials.

From the British Thyroid Foundation

Thyroid Foundation info here

www.btf-thyroid.org/news/thyroid-disease-and-coronavirus-covid-19

And FAQs here

www.btf-thyroid.org/faqs-about-thyroid-disease-and-coronavirus-covid-19

No obvious problems with vaccine specified.

X posted panda

Many thanks for posting that, Powerslide. Very reassuring. Mind you, I'd be gratefully taking it if/when offered unless there were serious known side effects!

My mum has just got the call. I'm taking her for her first Covid injection tomorrow morning. She checked and it's apparently safe for thyroxine takers.

Thyroxine just replaces something most people's bodies make naturally, so I dont see it as an issue.

This is an excellent read by a well-known integrative health doctor, discussing this very issue.

www.drchristianson.com/the-covid-choice/

I had a total thyroidectomy in 2018 which is well managed by levothyroxine. It's never crossed my mind that I would get the vaccine early because of this though, I'm perfectly healthy and don't consider myself vulnerable in any way.

I'm reading between the lines some concerns about the vaccine for thyroid issues, where have they come from? Again, not something that has occured to me.

Perhaps I don't contemplate enough!

@alwayswantchocolate, the concerns I’ve read about have come from people who have Graves or Hashimoto’s, who worry about a huge autoimmune flare after receiving the vaccine.

[quote stopgap]@alwayswantchocolate, the concerns I’ve read about have come from people who have Graves or Hashimoto’s, who worry about a huge autoimmune flare after receiving the vaccine.[/quote]
Thank you stopgap that's really helpful.

I'm a hospital pharmacist, have Hashimoto's on levothyroxine and liothyronine and got my first dose of the vaccine without any issues last week. If I was asked in work to advise on cautions or contraindications for this vaccine I would consult the Summary of medical Product Characteristics (SmPC) linked here
I've checked and no known issues with levothyoxine or those with thyroid disease.

I have Hashimoto's and have the flu jab every year with absolutely no ill effects. I'm very much looking forward to receiving the Covid vaccine.

@trumpisaflump

I'm a hospital pharmacist, have Hashimoto's on levothyroxine and liothyronine and got my first dose of the vaccine without any issues last week. If I was asked in work to advise on cautions or contraindications for this vaccine I would consult the Summary of medical Product Characteristics (SmPC) linked here I've checked and no known issues with levothyoxine or those with thyroid disease.

@trumpisaflump do you know if it is safe for people who have/had thyroid cancer?

@user526091 have a look at the SmPC I linked below, specifically at the contraindications, special warnings and precautions section. There's nothing listed in regards to cancer so I would presume this is safe but of course check with the clinician carrying out the injection to make sure.
From this SmPC, at the moment the only absolute contraindication is hypersensitivity to the vaccine contents. So avoid if you are allergic.

My MIL takes thyroxine and had her first Covid 19 vaccination last week. No complications as far as I know.

Had my first dose of the vaccine last week. Been on thyroxine for about 6 years. No issues

[quote trumpisaflump]@user526091 have a look at the SmPC I linked below, specifically at the contraindications, special warnings and precautions section. There's nothing listed in regards to cancer so I would presume this is safe but of course check with the clinician carrying out the injection to make sure.
From this SmPC, at the moment the only absolute contraindication is hypersensitivity to the vaccine contents. So avoid if you are allergic. [/quote]
Thank you

I have hashimotos and take thyroxine.

I’ve had the first dose of the vaccine - no ill effects so far 😀

Does anyone know if having thyroid issues put us on the vulnerable list who get the vaccine? I have flu jab so maybe.

I have/had graves & had thyroid removed about 14 years ago - I’ve never been offered flu jab because of it, should I be having the flu jab?