Vaccine in immunosuppressed

[boon]

I recently came across this article

www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/vaccines/91631

which explains that the vaccines (Pfizer & Moderna) provide hardly any protection for those who are organ transplant patients or those taking anti-metabolites medication such as mycophenalate. Not good news for people like my mum who are taking this medication.

Im hoping they will come up with something to help these people.

Yes, it's not encouraging.

Yesterday's announcement that all immediate household members of immune compromised CEV people will be re-instated as category 6 for vaccination is wholly welcome.

I think there should be more testing, to see if antibodies are present, of those with certain conditions, both to advance research and also to help them assess risk (something we're not meant to do individually at present, but increasing flexibility to do so as the summer steps relax restrictions).

Keeping CEV supermarket slot priority and pharmacy deliveries would be low cost/effort but be a major help to those who do not know if the jab has conferred any immunity at all.

Yes I agree. The testing would be really useful as well. Its almost like they've been almost forgotten about now that they've been vaccinated. I know earlier in the year they were talking about an Oxford trial for something that coukd be given to immunosuppressed to boost their immunity. But then it all went very quiet.

Thanks for this OP.

Do we know of any such research regarding AZ? That's what DH had. He is CEV for an autoimmune related lung disease & on mycophenolate. Due his second jab next week....

Hi. I still haven't seen anything about Astrazenica. It would really help to know the effectiveness of it. My mum also has an autoimmune lung condition.

It’s possible to order a blood test online to measure your antibodies post vaccine. It’s not cheap but I plan to do it as I’m (moderately) immune suppressed.

IndigoC do you know which test it is? I will recommend to my mum.

@Passthewinebottle

Thanks for this OP.

Do we know of any such research regarding AZ? That's what DH had. He is CEV for an autoimmune related lung disease & on mycophenolate. Due his second jab next week....

Sadly, it's going to be the same or worse.

Vaccines generally don't work in people like this - that's why herd immunity is so important and why when people refuse to get the jab, they are directly endangering others.

I am immune compromised it’s so crap reading this. Kids at school are such a worry. Dp doesn’t want vaccine 🤬.
How do I get an antibody test from a company you can trust? I wouldn’t know where to start. Doctors have been a waste of time, apparently they don’t get involved and getting a test is a waste of money as no one can be sure how it will effect you if you do get it.

My mum has been on azathioprine for 30+ years, had an antibody test after first Pfizer which showed no antibody response (reference range is 0-0.8)

She stopped azathioprine 2 weeks pre second dose and was off it for 4 weeks in total - result today showed a response of 1100+

Mercifully she “only” has RA, she’s not a donor recipient, so coming off azathioprine was less risky than increased risk from covid but it’s not something she should stop taking for a prolonged period. But it’s definitely an option that people should talk to their specialist teams about

NB antibody test done privately, ~£75 and it’s an actual blood test (not “just” a finger prick and fill a vial)

I have RA and take 3 immunosuppressive drugs though not in the same league as transplant patients. I am doing fingerprick antibody tests every month for research and was negative after 6 weeks but positive after 10 weeks. I had AZ.
There is a company called zoomdoc who do antibody tests for around £60. There are two types of test , one for vaccine and one for antibodies produced naturally by infection so you need the right one.

Oh @Kyph that’s wonderful news - sounds like a nerve wracking 10 weeks

@ohforfoxache where did your mum get her test from?

@boon she had it at the Clementine Churchill hospital in Harrow (BMI healthcare) but I know that Bupa do it too

Following as I am also on azathioprine for autoimmune condition and starting to worry that my 2x AZ doses count for nothing now

I can't find the article right now but they have been following RA immunosuppressed patients in the States and they have generally have been showing a good antibody response after CV vaccines, much better than they originally thought it would be.
It may be that certain immunosuppressants are more of a problem than others. I think the research looked at patients on Biologics.
Have been following carefully as I take 2 immunosuppressants (biologic and DMARD) atm and have been immunosuppressed for nearly 25yrs.

I heard that too, biologics seem to be okay but the likes of azathioprine like I take not so good

DH is CEV after a bone marrow transplant.
I have a couple of auto immune conditions.
Neither of us are on relevant drugs, but we both have immune systems that behave oddly.

We both had AZ vaccines and are both in the ONS study (needle blood tests monthly.)

DH, positive for antibodies 3 weeks post dose 1
Me, positive for antibodies 10 weeks post dose 1.

We've both had second doses of AZ now.

@Workinghardeveryday oh shit this is such rubbish news, do you have any links to research on this? I’ve been Googling but can’t find any info re azathioprine, it’s all biologics

I can't find it now but there was an article in creaky joints about vaccine response in immunocompromised people. The reasrch in a small study found it was the drug rather than the disease that was the culprit Worst was steroids and methotrexate.