Question
I’ve had RA for about 2yrs. On 7.5mg methotrexate weekly + Remicade every 8wks. I’m supposed to travel to India soon and all information I have indicates a number of vaccines are required (polio) or “highly recommended”. Including Malaria, Polio, DPT, MMR, and Hep A. I still plan to speak with my Doctor, but I was wondering if there is any guidance on taking so many vaccines while immune supressed. OR if there is any information on the timing of all vaccines – e.g. over a 3mo vs 4wk period of time? Sincerely, – laura
Answer
Hi laura,
The general recommendation is that any vaccination with a killed (inactive) virus is safe, but vaccinations with live viruses should be avoided. I recommend that you be seen in a Travel Clinic. These folks know which ones are killed versus live. Another option is to let the Remicade and methotrexate wash out for a few months. At that point, you can receive both killed and live vaccines. However, with rheumatoid arthritis, most patients would not want to go through the pain and stiffness of stopping their medications for several months.
