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Is it safe to get the Corona Virus (COVID-19) vaccine with PMR?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Oct 29, 2022 | Replies (299)Comment receiving replies
Hello, folks. I'm another GCA patient. Regarding the Covid vaccine, I've been under the impression that I shouldn't have it
because my WBC and neutrophils keep crashing, and therefore my immune system is very compromised. I haven't checked with my medical team yet though. Are any of you in this same situation, and if so, have your doctors still okayed your hope to get the vaccine? I did have the regular flu shot in the Fall.
I'm not on Prednisone anymore, after 1 1/2 years, but am now on Actemra injections. They were weekly but because my WBC and neutrophils keep falling, I'm now bi-weekly IF the lab work is ok. Lab work is done weekly, or twice a week if results are falling. It's a real dance!
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I have had WBC and neutrophil counts and they have been low for over 15 years. I don’t have GCA, but currently on my 3rd bout of PMR, currently working on reducing prednisone from 5 to 4 milligrams. I have seen 2 hematologists (changed jobs and health care systems so got work-up in both). A cause for low WBC never found, so now just monitor 2 times a year. During this time, I have had yearly flu shots, 2 Shingrix shots, DPT with no problems. I am more scared of Covid than vaccine.