New article - Rituxan and vaccines

If you received vaccinations within six months of receiving rituximab (Rituxan®), they were probably ineffective. In a new study, people who received pneumonia and flu vaccines six months after their rituximab treatments had a significantly lower response to these vaccines than the placebo group. Nearly 20% did not respond to the vaccines at all. Rituximab depletes B-cells (cells that make antibodies) and also reduces cellular immunity (the part of the immune system that doesn’t include antibodies), both needed for a healthy immune system. This cellular depletion lasts at least six months and has implications for the lack of response to vaccinations and the increased risk of infection seen in rituximab patients.

Nazi I et al. “The effect of rituximab on vaccine responses in patients with immune thrombocytopenia.” Blood. 2013 Jul 12.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23851398

Thanks for posting that Sandi. I just had rituxan, last one in August. My doc told me to get a flu shot late in oct as it could offer me a little protection. I need another pneumonia vaccine but will wait 6 months for that.

yeah i just got my shots pre- spleen removal post ritux so i willlikely be repearting thos shots in 6 mths