Coronavirus (COVID-19) and IBD

If you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which is under control this doesn’t directly put you at extra risk if you catch COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), but some of the medications you are taking may.

If you are taking an immunosuppressant medication then you may have a reduced ability to fight infections and other diseases, including COVID-19.

Immunosuppressant medications include:

• Some steroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone)

• Immunomodulators (such as azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate)

• Biologics (such as infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, ustekinumab, vedolizumab)

• JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib)

If you are taking an immunosuppressant medication the advice is to keep taking your medication (unless specifically told to by your doctor). If you stop taking it you risk a flare of your disease which could lead to other complications and/or hospitalisation. Many charities and organisations around the world are keeping country-specific advice updated on their websites. Below are direct links to some of these pages.

UK

In the UK most people with immunosuppression will be under the care of a hospital specialist and will usually have been grouped in one of two ways:

1. Eligibility for additional vaccines including the COVID-19 boosters

2. Eligibility for COVID-19 treatments

For further guidance: UK government COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information - Crohn’s and Colitis UK: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/news/coronavirus-covid-19-advice

USA

Patient advice - Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/coronavirus/what-ibd-patients-should-know

Canada

Patient advice - Crohn’s and Colitis Canada: https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/Living-with-Crohn-s-Colitis/COVID-19-and-IBD

Australia

Patient advice - Crohn’s & Colitis Australia:
Covid and Crohn’s & Colitis – Crohn’s & Colitis Australia (CCA) (crohnsandcolitis.org.au)

Worldwide

World Health Organisation weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19:
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-epidemiological-update-on-covid-19---15-february-2023

A website was previously set up to report and record cases of COVID-19 among people with IBD.  This is the latest information from SECURE-IBD: https://covidibd.org/

Do you know of any resources we should add to this page? Please get in touch.