Drug interactions
Influenza a vaccine + Rituximab
Severity: Moderate
Influenza a vaccine and Rituximab: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Rituximab depletes B cells and markedly blunts antibody responses to inactivated vaccines, so an H5N1 influenza vaccine may give little or no protective immunity. The vaccine is not harmful in itself, but the patient may remain unprotected.
What this interaction means in plain words
Influenza a vaccine and Rituximab can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Rituximab-mediated CD20-positive B-cell depletion impairs humoral vaccine responses.
What to do
Give non-live vaccines at least 4 weeks before a rituximab course whenever feasible. If vaccinated during or after therapy, do not rely on the response and maintain infection precautions.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Influenza a vaccine and Rituximab, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Rituximab
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Influenza a vaccine with Rituximab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Influenza a vaccine and Rituximab can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Rituximab depletes B cells and markedly blunts antibody responses to inactivated vaccines, so an H5N1 influenza vaccine may give little or no protective immunity. The vaccine is not harmful in itself, but the patient may remain unprotected.
How serious is the interaction between Influenza a vaccine and Rituximab?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Give non-live vaccines at least 4 weeks before a rituximab course whenever feasible. If vaccinated during or after therapy, do not rely on the response and maintain infection precautions.
What other medicines interact with Rituximab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Rituximab with, for example, Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, Baricitinib, Certolizumab pegol. The full list is on the Rituximab page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
