Ankylosing Sputylitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the spine and other areas of the body. Inflammation and chronic back pain are two of the most common symptoms of AS.

It is important to take steps to protect your health if you have a chronic condition. Staying up to date on your vaccinations is included.

We will discuss the recommendations for the vaccine for people with AS. We will cover questions about vaccine safety and whether it can affect your treatment plan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that:

  • People who are 6 months to older receive a primary vaccine series.
  • Everyone over the age of 5 years receive booster doses.

According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines, COVID-19 vaccination should be prioritized in people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, which includes AS. The ACR notes that, aside from known allergies to vaccine ingredients, there are no other contraindications to vaccination in this group.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective for people with AS. A 2022 study determined vaccine effectiveness in 63,145 people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases between March and November 2021. It included 7,863 people with AS.

The effectiveness of two vaccine doses was found to be 89% for those with AS. The level of effectiveness was the same as a third vaccine dose. Vaccination was effective in preventing serious COVID-19 in people with AS.

Some people with AS take drugs that suppress the immune system as part of their treatment. They may be considered moderately-to-severely immunocompromised.

The COVID-19 vaccine schedule for immunocompromised adults is a little different to the recommended schedule for non-immunocompromised adults. Here’s what’s recommended if you have AS:

Pfizer-BioNTech

  • Primary series: three doses
    • The second dose is 3 weeks after the first dose.
    • The third dose should be at least 4 weeks after the second dose.
  • First booster: at least 3 months after primary series (mRNA preferred)
  • Second booster: at least 4 months after the first booster (mRNA only)

Moderna

  • Primary series: three doses
    • The second dose is after the first dose.
    • The third dose should be at least 4 weeks after the second dose.
  • First booster: at least 3 months after primary series (mRNA preferred)
  • Second booster: at least 4 months after the first booster (mRNA only)

J&J

  • Primary series: two doses
    • The second dose should be at least 4 weeks after the first.
  • First booster: at least 2 months after primary series (mRNA preferred)
  • Second booster: at least 4 months after the first booster (mRNA only)

Novavax

  • Primary series: two doses
    • The second dose is 3 weeks after the first dose.
  • Boosters: not recommended at this time

Is it possible to not know which vaccine schedule to follow? A doctor or healthcare professional can tell you which one is recommended based on your AS treatment plan.

AS can be treated with a variety of medications, some of which may suppress the immune system, including TNF-alpha inhibitors such as adalimumab (Humira) and infliximab (Remicade). Sometimes oral or injected corticosteroids are also used.

It is unlikely that the COVID-19 vaccine will have an impact on your AS treatment.

A 2021 study looked into the effect of immunosuppressive therapy on the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in people with chronic inflammatory conditions such as AS. Researchers made the following findings:

  • Most people (88.7%) with chronic inflammatory conditions made antibodies in response to the vaccine.
  • The difference in vaccine response for those taking and those not taking the TNF-alpha inhibitors was not significant.
  • “Those taking corticosteroids for their treatment had lower levels of antibodies than those who didn’t.”

According to the ACR guidelines, there’s no evidence that the timing of medications affects the vaccine’s safety or effectiveness. However, they do note that a doctor may choose to change the timing of medications to optimize your response to the vaccine.

According to the CDC, the most common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine include:

  • There are some symptoms at the injection site.
  • fatigue
  • There is a high degree of There is a high degree of fever..
  • “It’s cold.”
  • The muscles are sore.
  • There is a throbbing head.
  • nausea

A 2022 study looked into the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine in people with rheumatic diseases, including AS. It found that some of the most common side effects in this group were similar to those listed above and included:

  • There is pain or swelling at the injection side.
  • fatigue
  • There is a high degree of There is a high degree of fever..
  • There is a throbbing head.

The researchers noted that no single type of drug therapy was associated with an increased risk of side effects.

Mild side effects from the vaccine are normal and a sign that your immune system is responding. After a few days, these side effects can be alleviated with at- home care.

  • applying a cold compress to the injection site to help with pain and swelling
  • Staying hydrated.
  • taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), to ease pain and There is a high degree of There is a high degree of fever..

Who shouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine?

You shouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine if you’ve:

  • had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or to an ingredient in the COVID-19 vaccine
  • A known allergy to the vaccine.
  • experienced a clotting condition called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome after a previous dose of the J&J vaccine (this is a contraindication for the J&J vaccine only)

A 2021 study found that having axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) may protect against COVID-19 is severe.. The study included 9,766 people with SpA, including 924 with AS. Compared with those without axial SpA, people with AS had a lower risk of:

Another 2022 study of people with SpA looked into the impact of different types of SpA treatment. It found that no class of medication used to treat SpA affected the risk of contracting COVID-19 or becoming seriously ill because of COVID-19.

If you get COVID-19

You may still be wondering what to do if you become ill with COVID-19. Mild-to-moderate COVID-19 can be treated at home.

  • Getting a lot of rest.
  • Staying hydrated.
  • OTC medications can be used to relieve symptoms.

Additionally, the antiviral medications nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) are available for individuals who are at a high risk of serious COVID-19 illness. It’s taken by mouth and is most effective when started as soon as possible after symptoms begin.

The Spondylitis Association of America says that Paxlovid is safe for people with AS, but they note that it may interact with some medications. As such, it’s important to discuss your medications with a doctor or pharmacist before taking it.

If you have COVID-19 and develop any of the following symptoms, you should call the emergency room.

Vaccination can help protect against serious illness. It is important that all eligible individuals, including those with AS, receive their primary COVID-19 vaccine series and any recommended boosters.

The vaccine is safe and effective for people with AS. Talk to your doctor about your AS treatment plan and vaccine schedule because some AS medications can suppress the immune system.