Living with lupus can make COVID-19 a more serious concern. Because lupus already affects how the immune system works, and many lupus medications suppress it further, the body may have a harder time fighting off the virus.
People with lupus may be at higher risk for severe COVID-19 if they:
- Are currently experiencing a Show Full Answer
Living with lupus can make COVID-19 a more serious concern. Because lupus already affects how the immune system works, and many lupus medications suppress it further, the body may have a harder time fighting off the virus.
People with lupus may be at higher risk for severe COVID-19 if they:
- Are currently experiencing a flare
- Take corticosteroids like prednisone
- Take immunosuppressants such as mycophenolate, methotrexate, or rituximab
- Have lupus nephritis (kidney involvement) The good news is that health experts, including the Lupus Foundation of America, strongly recommend COVID-19 vaccines for people with lupus — and confirm they are safe. A few important things to know:
- The vaccines cannot cause COVID-19
- If severely immunocompromised, extra doses may be recommended
- Timing your vaccine around medications may help improve its effectiveness — worth discussing with your care team If you do catch COVID-19, treatments like nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) may help reduce the risk of severe illness and long COVID — but it's not right for everyone. Importantly, if you take voclosporin (Lupkynis) for lupus nephritis, Paxlovid is not recommended due to serious drug interactions.
Always check with your doctor before starting any COVID-19 treatment.
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