COVID-19 VACCINES FOR PATIENTS WITH IBD

January 25, 2021Browse by Staff Member COVID-19 Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)TARA TROY, M.D. Gastroenterologist COVID-19 Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

COVID-19 VACCINES FOR PATIENTS WITH IBD

The International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD) recently released guidelines regarding the safety and efficacy of COVID vaccines in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The very short story: get the vaccine as soon as you can!

For more details, see the bullet points and the link below for the full article:

Highlighted themes of accepted statements related to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for patients with IBD by the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD)

Patients with IBD should be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.
The best time to administer SARSCoV-2 vaccination in patients with IBD is at the earliest opportunity to do so.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines including messenger RNA vaccines, replication incompetent vector vaccines, inactivated vaccines and recombinant vaccines are safe to administer to patients with IBD.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccination should not be deferred because a patient with IBD is receiving immune-modifying therapies [including Entyvio, Stelara, Humira, Remicade, Cimzia, 6MP, and Imuran].
Patients with IBD vaccinated with SARS-CoV-2 should be counselled that vaccine efficacy may be decreased when receiving systemic corticosteroids [prednisone].

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: recommendations from an international consensus meeting

I wish that Comprehensive Gastrointestinal Health had the ability to provide vaccines for our patients. We have applied with vigorous interest to the Illinois Department of Public Health and McKesson (a medical supply company involved in vaccine distribution) and unfortunately have not received any responses. We will keep trying, but in the meantime, access these resources to get yourself on a local list (thank you to the creator of this amazing resource!):

IMPACT: Vaccine Sites Information

If you have any additional questions or concerns about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for you, contact your doctor for more specific guidance. For additional questions, concerns, or to schedule an appointment, call 224.407.4400.