I need to get some vaccinations, but I'm on Remicade. I think Remicade and other Biologicals affect the immune system, so would it be fine taking vaccinations? Has anyone else had to?
Hi admiral
Here's a little something I found on the Crohn's and Colitis website, it looks like it depends what the vaccination is....
CAN I HAVE IMMUNISATIONS WHILE ON INFLIXIMAB?
It may be unsafe to be immunised with certain vaccinations while on infliximab.
You should not have any ‘live’ vaccines such as those for polio, yellow fever, rubella
(German measles) MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and BCG (tuberculosis).
However, you may be able to have the inactivated polio vaccine. Flu jabs are
currently safe as they are not live vaccines and the Department of Health
recommends that everyone on drugs such as infliximab should have an annual
flu vaccination. However, the children’s nasal flu vaccine is live and should not be
used.
If anyone in your family or household is due to have a live vaccine, check with
your IBD team whether you need to take any special precautions. You should
also check with your IBD team if you are in contact with a baby or young child
undergoing a vaccination programme