Risk to autoimmune people receiving the vaccine

[ohsuzannah]

My dd is 30 and is taking immunosuppressants ( azathioprine)
She is worried about receiving the vaccine, and what it might do to her.
She has mental health issues as well, and it is really affecting her mood ( bipolar)
In addition, I've just had the AstroZeneca and I was really ill after it.
Has anyone with similar problems had the vaccine yet? Just looking for some reassurance really.

My mums got an autoimmune condition & is on a shed load of steroids at the mo as it’s refusing to be well controlled currently .. she had AZ vaccine 3 weeks ago & had zero side effects bar a sore arm.. she’s been beyond delighted to have it & feels so much safer!

Her consultant ought to be able to give sound advice, failing that her GP.

You’ll get lots of opinions here but you need facts.

Her consultant said either vaccine would be fine by the way as well. Her consultant wrote 4 letters to her between Dec-Feb to stress how much she recommended my mum get it .. can your DD speak to her consultant or doctor to get a scientific opinion? It really helped my mum feel confident to get it!

I have auto immune condition and the only side effect I had was a sore arm. However it does seem just anecdotally that younger people get more side effects.
Even if she got the side effects, they amount to feeling rough for 24 hours not seriously ill. As someone with an auto immune disease she is probably more used than most to feeling in pain and unwell so it might not big a big deal to her?
Surely a small price to pay for a life saving vaccination.

I’m on the immunosuppressant methotrexate. I had the AZ vaccine. Felt rough for 24hrs. (Didn’t need to medicate or take to my bed.) Rather that than COVID though!

@Wolfiefan It did occur to me that lower reaction might equal poorer immune response. I have no idea whether there is anything in it just that if I had felt a reaction it would have reassured me that the vaccine was doing it's job making antibodies.

Speak to her consultants I was worried as I'm on abatacept and methotrexate. Had the az last week. Felt a bit off for 2 days, but fine since then.

Hi! You might find this thread useful: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4092402-Auto-Immune-disease-and-Vaccine

Lots of experiences from people with autoimmune disease and various vaccines. From what I remember, not a single person experienced dangerous side effects. Many had none or just the typical symptoms. Only a very small minority (one poster I think) decided to decline the vaccine due to fear of complications with their illness/medications.

I have lupus and had the first dose of Pfizer with minimal side effects. I felt the potential benefits outweighed the risks. Even the possibility of feeling crap for a day is vastly better than catching covid and the risks of getting long covid on top of an autoimmune illness.

Speak to her GP or consultant. If they can not answer you, there is a helpline they can call to ask any questions of the manufacturers. It should be available to the GP.

Her consultant will advise her on the specific risk or advantage of having the vaccine. Perhaps she will let you see the correspondence.

I have 5 (I think!) autoimmune conditions and had AZ vaccine. Sore arm, felt rough for a day absolutely fine after that

I’m on vedoluzimab and have had the AZ vaccine as a CEV person. I was the same as everyone else, felt a bit achey and fluey for 24 hours and was absolutely fine after that.

If she has Crohn’s/ UC there’s a really good video on it on the CCUK website

My mum was advised to have the Oxford one, not really sure why or the details but they said it would be better given her conditions/drugs. She's due it in a week I think.

I have an autoimmune disease and cancer, I've been told by my rheumatologist & oncologist to take it as soon as I'm offered it.

I'm on azathioprine too and had jab 3 weeks ago. My GP and consultant very pro me having it. Had no issues and recent blood tests showed no negative impact.

I have CF and a autoimmune condition. I felt tired and a bit run down for a week. I treated myself as having the flu, gave myself the same sort of treats and food and rested.

@Juo or your body is better than mine at creating an immune response without making you feel rather crap!
Also the side effects wore off pretty quickly but protection will continue to build.

I have lupus and aps and had Oxford AZ yesterday. I felt a poorly overnight ( temperature, chills, achy) but today I'm just sleepy and headachy. It's really not that bad.
My rheumatologist told me to "grab that vaccine" at the earliest opportunity. So I did.

I'm on Adalimumab and thus immune suppressed.

My consultant told me to have the vaccine asap, but to try to stop my meds for 10-14 days prior if poss, and 7-14 days after if poss.

I had the AZ vaccine 12 days ago and apart from very mild side effects on days 3-4, have felt fine. And relieved & grateful tbh

Azathioprine is a different category of immune suppressant, but same principles apply. If it's possible take a break, do; if not, then it's not; but get vaccinated.

She needs to talk to her gp or consultants.
I have autoimmune conditions, mh conditions and more.
I was invited a few weeks ago, however because of my current heath I have been advised to hold off.

I've googled this a bit but have no real evidence. It seems that immunosuppressed people might have a stronger reaction to the vaccine. I had mine yesterday and it flared up my condition in the night but regular paracetamol and I'm fine, just quite tired. She needs to speak to her specialist for advice

@TheLaughingGenome

I'm on Adalimumab and thus immune suppressed.

My consultant told me to have the vaccine asap, but to try to stop my meds for 10-14 days prior if poss, and 7-14 days after if poss.

I had the AZ vaccine 12 days ago and apart from very mild side effects on days 3-4, have felt fine. And relieved & grateful tbh

Azathioprine is a different category of immune suppressant, but same principles apply. If it's possible take a break, do; if not, then it's not; but get vaccinated.

That’s interesting as I was specifically told not to pause treatment or delay my injection even though it was due the same day as the jab. I had the Pfizer three weeks ago, no side effects.

Both the AZ vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine are safe with immunosuppressive drugs. It is possible it might make them 30-40% less effective if you are taking them when you get the vaccine, but you will still be more protected than if you didn't take them. I have Crohns disease and got good info from my consultants. Not sure what your relative has, but the drugs are the same. There is a lot of info on taking these kind of drugs and the vaccine on the Crohns and Colitis website:

crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/news/latest-coronavirus-vaccine-for-people-with-crohns-or-colitis?_ga=2.155824827.1295818023.1613147045-200623774.1612714260

Also, I think side effects are more noticeable for younger people than older. My older relatives have had no side effects, whereas young people i know with stronger immune systems have had headache fever etc, but only for a day or two.
Good luck to you!

I'm on steroids and vedolizumab, was told both vaccines were perfect fine for me to have, I had the AZ vaccine, felt ill for 24-48 he's afterwards, which from what I've read means I had an immune response - which I was worried about, being immune suppressed. So that was a good thing.

The thing I will say is I completely underestimated how much relief I would feel having had the first jab! Have been shielding since March, live in a holiday destination so didn't 'unshield' when it was paused as the world and his wife was thronging the streets here. Anyway, I've been scared, as I'm sure your DD is, and having had that jab has made me feel a little easier, a little lighter. I feel like an end is in sight and that I will not have to be shut up hiding at home while the rest of the world carries on without me. I didn't realise how badly it was affecting me, until it wasn't quite so bad.

Your DD should talk to her consultants, if they think she should have it, I'd strongly reccomend following their advice.

As far as I'm aware, none of the vaccines contains live virus so I would expect them to perfectly safe for your dd, but definitely check with gp/consultant for any recommendations