COVID-19

Safety and Immunogenicity of SARS CoV2 Vaccine Study

Researchers at the University of Manitoba are conducting a research study to investigate how people with autoimmune conditions and those who have reduced immune systems due to medication react to the vaccines being used to prevent COVID-19 illness in Canada.

If you are interested in furthering the understanding of the effect of the vaccines in scleroderma patients by participating in this study, please contact cov2vaccinestudy@hsc.mb.ca or call 204 787-4734 or 204-787-4275 for more information.

COVID-19 presents important challenges for people affected by Scleroderma. This page provides available resources and pertinent information for Scleroderma patients, as well as initiatives to support the organization and patients during these difficult times.

If you have questions about mental health, well-being, or coping with COVID-19, SPIN Director, Dr. Brett Thombs, and the SPIN Team are ready to provide answers. Please submit your questions here.

Vaccine news

2021-03-12 Manitoba scleroderma patients' eligibility for the AstraZeneca vaccine

(for people 50 to 64 years old with underlying health conditions including scleroderma patients)

The MB government announced on March 10 that Manitobans aged 50 to 64 years (First Nations people aged 30 to 64) with a high-risk condition will be the first group eligible to receive the AstraZeneca/Covishield COVID-19 vaccine, administered through pharmacies and doctor’s clinics. These individuals are at increased risk of experiencing serious illness requiring hospitalization or death related to COVID-19.

People with high-risk conditions (as determined by their doctor or pharmacist) will be prioritized, with those who have a condition in Priority List 1 being offered immunization before those with a condition in Priority List 2.

Generally, scleroderma patients aged 50 to 64 fall into the Priority 2 list for vaccine eligibility.

Further, those aged 50 to 64 with conditions often associated with scleroderma (listed below) fall into Priority 1 for vaccine eligibility:

severe COPD, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease
receiving one or more of the following immunosuppressive therapies: B cell therapies (e.g., rituximab, ocrelizumab), cyclophosphamide, alemtuzumab, calcineurin inhibitors, chronic dose prednisone >=20mg/day, mycophenolate, sulfasalazine and JAK inhibitors (e.g., tofacitinib)

For more complete eligibility information click here.

A “vaccine finder” map can be found here.

With the approval of several vaccines in Canada for Covid-19, there are many questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines for people living with scleroderma.

The Scleroderma Foundation in the United States has provided information and recommendations on COVID-19 vaccines which can be accessed using the link below. It has highly credible information from some of the top experts in the world. Scleroderma Manitoba recommends that you discuss medical decisions regarding the vaccine with your doctor.

Scleroderma Foundation: Questions and Answers Regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine

SPIN Series: Living with Covid (Concluded)

SPIN (The Scleroderma Patient Information Network) offered weekly educational webinars in February and March. Watch recordings of the sessions using the links below:

02/02: Healthy Information Management with Laura Dyas

02/10: Worry management with Ghassan El-Baalbaki

02/17: Relaxation techniques with Ghassan El-Baalbaki

02/24: Adapted home exercise with Kelsey Ellis & Delaney Duchek

03/03: Home activity engagement with Laura Bustamante