Do vaccines still work when you’re taking Cosentyx (secukinumab)?
Cosentyx (secukinumab) lowers parts of the immune response to treat autoimmune conditions such as plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Because it affects immune signaling, it can reduce how strongly some vaccines work, depending on the vaccine type and timing.
The key practical distinction is whether the vaccine is “live” or “non-live”:
- Non-live (inactivated, recombinant, or mRNA) vaccines are generally considered usable while on immunosuppressive therapy, but they may produce a weaker immune response than when you’re not taking the medication.
- Live vaccines are typically avoided during treatment with immune-modifying drugs like Cosentyx because of the risk they could cause infection in people whose immune systems are suppressed.
Which vaccines are typically recommended vs avoided on Cosentyx?
Most routine immunizations are non-live (for example, flu shots and many others), and these are usually preferred while on treatment. Live vaccines (for example, some formulations of varicella/“chickenpox,” measles-mumps-rubella, and others depending on the country and specific product) are commonly avoided.
Your clinician or pharmacist should confirm which specific vaccines apply to you, since recommendations can vary by vaccine formulation (and whether it is truly live) and by your dosing schedule and condition.
Will you need to time vaccines around Cosentyx to get best protection?
If you’re going to receive a vaccination, clinicians often try to optimize response by timing it around treatment when possible. Timing strategies depend on:
- the type of vaccine,
- your current Cosentyx dosing schedule,
- and your risk level for infection.
In practice, many patients can still be vaccinated without stopping Cosentyx, especially for non-live vaccines. When there’s a need for better immune response or when a live vaccine is being considered, the prescriber may recommend delaying treatment or adjusting timing before vaccination.
What about COVID-19 and flu shots specifically?
For flu and COVID-19 vaccination, the commonly used vaccines are not live, so they are generally the types used for people taking immune-modifying therapies. Even so, effectiveness can be lower than in people not on treatment, so staying up to date with boosters when recommended can matter for maintaining protection.
Are vaccines safe while on Cosentyx?
Non-live vaccines are generally considered safe for people taking Cosentyx, though side effects like soreness, fatigue, or fever can still happen like they do for anyone.
Live vaccines are the main concern because they contain weakened organisms that can replicate—creating a risk when immune responses are suppressed.
What if you already got a vaccine after starting Cosentyx?
If you already received a vaccine while on Cosentyx, it’s usually not an emergency. What matters most is:
- whether it was a live vaccine or non-live vaccine, and
- whether you may need extra doses/boosters for the best protection.
If you tell your clinician which vaccine you received and when, they can advise whether any follow-up vaccination is needed.
What should you ask your doctor or pharmacist?
Ask for:
- whether the specific vaccine is live or non-live,
- whether you should adjust timing relative to your next Cosentyx dose,
- whether you need boosters (especially for flu/COVID-19),
- and whether your specific condition (and any other immune meds) changes recommendations.
If you share your age, country, your Cosentyx dosing (e.g., every 2 or 4 weeks), and which vaccine(s) you’re planning, I can help you narrow down what questions to prioritize.