Information for People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Why is planning for a COVID-19 vaccine important?

Preparing for your vaccine is important, because people with inflammatory bowel disease who take certain immune modulating treatments may want to talk to their health care provider about timing their vaccination with their treatments or medications.
It is also very important that you monitor how you are feeling in the days leading up to your vaccine appointment. If you are feeling sick, rebook for when you are feeling well.

Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine? Will the vaccine work for me?

All of the COVID-19 vaccines available in Canada are safe, and they do not contain any live virus. The vaccines cannot give you COVID-19.
Doctors and researchers have looked at the evidence. They agree that unless you have a very serious allergy to any of the vaccine ingredients, if you take immune modulating treatments you should strongly consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This is because you have a higher chance of experiencing severe symptoms if you get COVID-19 because of the medications that you take.
People who take immune modulating therapies weren’t included in the clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine. We do not know exactly how much protection the vaccine will give people who take these medications compared with people who don’t.
However, the way the vaccines work means that there is a strong chance that your immune system will learn to protect you, to some degree, from COVID-19.

What about the medications or treatments that I take?

For people taking certain immune modulating therapies to manage their inflammatory bowel disease, timing your vaccine around your treatment may help the vaccine to work best. However, the likely influence of these medications on how well the vaccine works is small. This decision should be made in consultation with your health care providers.
While we do not have specific information on immune suppressing medications and their impact on the response to the COVID-19 vaccine, we do have information from other vaccines.
If you are not sure which medication you take and/or if you have any concerns or questions at all please contact your health care provider.

You may book your vaccination appointment without delay if you are taking any of the following therapies:

Talk to your health care provider about timing your vaccine around your treatment if you are taking any of the following therapies:

Ocrelizumab | Prednisone (more than 20mg/day) | Rituximab

There are two options you can discuss with your health-care provider:

Option #1: Do not change medication dosing and go ahead and book your vaccine appointment.
Option #2: Adjust your medication to optimize your immune system’s response to the COVID-19 vaccine.

This decision should be made with your health care provider. Together, you should take into consideration your risk of getting COVID-19 and your risk of having a flare up of your condition if you alter your medication timing. Please reach out to them before you book your vaccine appointment.

If you don’t see your medication listed:

If you don’t see your medication listed, or if you take medications for another condition and you aren’t sure if you need to worry about timing, contact your health-care provider.

How else should I plan for my vaccine appointment?

Review COVID-19 Immunization Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador
In the 2-3 days leading up to your vaccine monitor yourself: are any of the typical symptoms of your condition new or getting worse? If you aren’t feeling well, rebook your vaccine appointment for another day. Consider reaching out to your health care provider about your worsening symptoms.
You can feel safe going to the COVID-19 vaccine clinic, as they are following all COVID-19 safety precautions.

What or who should I bring with me?

Please bring your non-expired MCP card to your appointment.
You can bring any medical or mobility equipment that you need.
If you need to, you can bring a trusted friend, family member or caregiver with you to support you through the process and/or translate for you as Please only bring one person.

What happens after my vaccine?

Everyone who gets a COVID-19 vaccine will stay on location to be monitored for 15 minutes after they receive their vaccine.
If you have any new or worsening symptoms once you go home, please call your health care team or 8-1-1. If you have a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Everyone will have to continue following COVID-19 public health measures, even after getting their vaccine.

My vaccine planning checklist

Read the COVID-19 vaccine information for my condition(s)
Time my vaccine appointment around my medication and treatments (if relevant to me)
Talk to my doctor if I have any questions or need any help planning my medication
Monitor how I’m feeling leading up to my vaccination appointment. Is anything new or getting worse compared to how I usually feel?
Make sure I am feeling my usual self on the day of my vaccine appointment
Plan to bring the medical and mobility equipment I need with me

April 23, 2021