Rheumatoid Arthritis And Shingles Shot

Most adults have been exposed to varicella zoster virus which causes chickenpox.

Rheumatoid arthritis and shingles shot.

People with rheumatoid arthritis ra have roughly twice the risk of healthy older adults of developing shingles a virus related to chickenpox that causes pain and a blistering rash. The nasal spray version contains live virus so it s not recommended for people with weakened immune systems. Some ra treatments besides biologics compromise the immune system and not everyone can safely take the live shingles vaccine. Currently on the enbrel drug among others.

This virus is never completely cleared from our bodies but lies quietly in spinal nerve cells. 1 a live vaccine can cause an infection in someone who takes immunosuppressant medications and can also stay in the body and re emerge in patients treated with immunosuppressants. Many ra drugs including dmards and biologics suppress your immune system and increase your risk for infection. I am treating it also however is there a pronounced connection to enbrel treatment and the appearance to shingle.

Two vaccines are licensed and recommended to prevent shingles in the u s. Even if you can you and your doctor may need to time the shot. Just recently i have developed a spot of shingles on the back of my neck. Your doctor might also recommend the pneumonia vaccine and the shingles vaccine.

Recombinant zoster vaccine rzv shingrix has been in use since 2017 and is recommended by acip as the preferred shingles vaccine. Zoster vaccine live zvl zostavax has been in use since 2006. Should not take the shingles vaccines. It s important to complete the course and receive both injections.

First rheumatoid disease patients taking methotrexate azathriopine or prednisone may take the shingles vaccine if they re taking specific small dosages of those drugs according to an article in a recent issue of rheumatology news. Members of a class of drugs called tnf alpha blockers nearly doubled the risk of herpes zoster better known as shingles among rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in a 5 040 patient german study. According to the hospital for special surgery rheumatoid arthritis patients who take immunosuppressant drugs should avoid live vaccines. Doctors recommend that people who have rheumatoid arthritis receive the annual vaccination for respiratory influenza also known as the flu shot.

I have been successfully treated for rheumatoid arthritis for the last 20 years. When to get vaccinated your doctor will recommend you get vaccinated before you start ra treatment. Talk to your rheumatologist about that.