Vaccine advice

Boo24
Boo24 Member Posts: 3
edited 2. Nov 2024, 21:27 in Living with arthritis

Hi All,

I’m new here and am just wanting some advice to see if anyone can assist. 🤞🏻 I’ve been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis for approximately 2.5 years and am on weekly methotrexate injections (delightful!). My wife and I recently booked a holiday for next year which requires a Yellow Fever Vaccine; however, this is contraindicated on Methotrexate and for those with immunosuppression! ( I only discovered this after patching the deposit! Yay! 😡) . I’m wanting to hear if anyone has come across this before and if so, what they did? I’ve considered stopping methotrexate for 3 months then getting vaccine and then waiting a further 3 months to restart, my wife isn’t keen for this though. Any advice / help would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments

  • Boo24
    Boo24 Member Posts: 3

    just to add to this, I would be crossing from one African country and another which requires a vaccine, but if I stayed in the same one it wouldn’t matter!! Ludicrous really, I either need it or I don’t!

  • Ellen
    Ellen Moderator Posts: 1,812

    Might it be an idea @Boo24 to ask your rheumatology team's advice?

    It really sounds as though you are well and truly stuck between a rock and a hard place

    I did a quick search of (hopefully relatively) appropriate threads for you:

    https://community.versusarthritis.org/search?domain=all_content&query=holiday%20vaccines%20on%20mTX&scope=site&source=community

    I'd be very interested to hear how you resolve the issue.

    Best wishes

    Ellen.

  • TiredWarrior
    TiredWarrior Member Posts: 22

    @Boo24 , it might be worth getting information about risks to yourself in the areas you are travelling.

    If the actual risk is low but the certification is just part of red tape - then it might be better to request an exemption letter from your Rheumatologist stating that you can’t have a Yellow Fever Vaccine.

  • Wonderwoman1
    Wonderwoman1 Member Posts: 4

    I believe the advice has recently changed and we can now receive live vaccines, my Rhumatology nurse informed me of this last week. But do check with your own team to be sure.

  • Boo24
    Boo24 Member Posts: 3

    @Wonderwoman1, so my understanding is that we can receive live vaccines but have to come off of Mtx for 3 months pre and post vaccine. I double checked as I wasn’t sure but all the literature I’ve read says it’s not recommended for those on Mtx. So coming off for that significant period will be the only way to ensure my system is clear of the drug without affecting the vaccine! So I’ve decided to stop it and start alternative supplements and see what happens but I’m having the vaccine as I want to experience life and not be controlled by a disease!

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