COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Guidance Summary for Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (Part 5)
Allow me to continue with the discussion and present other guidelines regarding Covid vaccines administered to patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) and auto-immune and inflammatory rheumatic disease (AIIRD).
For patients who previously completed the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series or 1-dose J&J COVID-19 vaccine, and who are receiving a supplemental dose, an mRNA vaccine dose of either type (Pfizer or Moderna) is preferred.
The RMD patients who have completed a primary COVID vaccine series, and any supplemental doses for which they qualify, should receive booster dose(s) as recommended for immunocompromised patients.
The primary vaccination, supplemental doses, and booster doses should be given regardless of health status.
The medical professionals providers should not routinely order any lab testing (e.g., antibody tests) for IgM and/or IgG.
RMD patients should continue to follow all public health guidelines regarding physical distancing and other preventive measures even if they are already vaccinated.
AIIRD patients should continue with pre-exposure prophylaxis monoclonal antibody treatment:
AIIRD patients at high risk for poor outcomes related to COVID should receive monoclonal antibody therapy.
Household members and other frequent, close contacts of AIIRD patients should undergo COVID-19 vaccination.
While vaccination would ideally occur in the setting of well-controlled AIIRD, except for those patients with life-threatening illness.
The bottom line is that people with RMD or AIIRD should get vaccines when possible.
Next week we will be having a new topic regarding health and wellness.