Corticosteroid Injections and COVID-19 Vaccines

Fact: There is currently no direct evidence to suggest that a corticosteroid injection before or after the administration of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine decreases the efficacy of the vaccine. However, based on the known timeline of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression following epidural and intraarticular corticosteroid injections, and the timeline of the reported peak efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, physicians should consider timing an elective corticosteroid injection such that it is administered no less than two weeks prior to a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose and no less than one week following a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose, whenever possible.

Pioneer Spine and Sport Physicians, Spine Surgeons, East Longmeadow, Northampton, West Springfield, Lenox, MA » Services » Spinal Injections

Spinal Injections

Spinal injections are recommended for the treatment of chronic back or neck pain. They relieve pain by blocking the transmission of nerve signals between specific areas of the spine and the brain. The injections usually contain local anesthetics, steroids, or narcotics and are administered into the spinal joints, nerve roots or affected soft tissues. Complex nerve blocks may also be performed. Spinal injections are performed with x-ray or ultrasound guidance. Specific procedures offered at PSSP for spinal conditions are listed and described in more detail at Spine Conditions.