The Holiday Season also corresponds to another season: Flu season. And with the flu seasons comes the option of getting vaccinated.

A recent study out of the Netherlands examined the effectiveness of flu vaccination in people taking TNF-a Inhibitors for a variety of conditions, including psoriatic arthritis and spondylitis.

The study concluded that, "The antibody response to influenza vaccination in patients treated with anti-TNF is only modestly impaired." Thus the TNF-a inhibitors did not make a significant impact on the effectiveness of the flu vaccine.

To read the study abstract, please click here.

Patients on Biologics Should Avoid Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine

It is important for spondylitis patients planning to get vaccinated against the flu to discuss the various options of vaccine delivery with their rheumatologists.

American College of Rheumatology researchers have found that patients currently being treated with TNF-a inhibitors (Enbrel, Remicade etc…) should not be vaccinated using a nasal spray treatment. FluMist, is a "live attenuated vaccine; therefore it is contraindicated in immunosuppressed patients. Immunosuppressed patients should be strongly encouraged to receive vaccination against influenza using the standard injectable inactived flu vaccines," according to a report published in ACR's Hotline newsletter.

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