My lovely gurus. I am so very worried. This morning I had my flu jab and I stupidly forgot to ask for the under 65 jab without the adjuvent. I have always made sure that I had the safe one before.
I am really frightened that I will have a huge flare having had the over 65 jab. Has anyone had it and how have you been? Should I raise my Pred? I am on 4.5 mg Xxxx
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Smokygirl
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I imagine most of us here who are in the UK have had the one for over 65s. I haven't a clue which I've had as I don't live in the UK and they don't make a "thing" about it. You go to the GP, they give you a jab, that's it. I have never reacted to any of my jabs.
Put it out of your mind and wait and see what happens - maybe an extra sore arm, and a better response to the vaccine is likely so you are less likely to get bad flu.
Oh my dear PMRpro! Thank you for your reassurance! I have been so careful to make sure I got the one without the adjuvent in past four years.
I simply forgot to ask this morning. The NHS here in the UK recommends the under 65 one for immuno compromised people but I was in a line of patients and forgot to ask for it.
No, never. They suggest paracetamol for a day or two for any aches.
At 4,5mg I'd say you aren't particularly immunocompromised and the only "don't" I can find just says the live vaccine but that is the nasal one used for small children. In fact, some say that immunocompromised patients under 65 should be given the one with the adjuvant ti improved the amount of response.
When the rubrics say immunocompromised it usually means cancer patients on massive chemo doses. The only thing I can find is that immunocompromised children should have the under 65 injected vaccine rather than the live nasal spray. I wonder if that is what you are thinking of?
No, not that. The NHS sent an email inviting me to have my flu jab and way down the list it said immuno compromised people probably shouldn’t have the jab with the adjuvent. However, you have reassured me greatly reminding me that I am probably not very immuno compromised at 4.5mg! As always, PMR pro, you see things clearly!! Thank you, xxx
You’ve said in that reply that at 4.5mg, you aren’t really immune compromised. Does that mean at 2.5, for example, that the immune system is up and running fairly well?
Well mine has never felt particularly compromised! I get few infections, even colds. And lots of others say something similar, I think it probably depends on the person - some get cold after cold or UTIs all the time. There are certainly people in a far worse place when they are on really high doses of pred.
Thanks. I seem to be on the compromised list when it comes to Covid jags as doctor says I’m vulnerable , but like you, I don’t feel particularly vulnerable.
I didn't realise that you should not have the over 65 one if you are immunosupressed, my GP hasn't said anything for last 10 years, I suffer for a bout 7 to 10 days then I am ok, if that helps x
I had flu jab when I had GCA between the ages of 65-69 - can’t say I had any issues at all… but this is a previous post from the related posts on similar subject -
Thank you so much dear DL for your prompt reply. I feel an absolute fool having been so careful for the last four years to have the one without the adjuvent. I am really feeling my 81 years!!
I had the flu and Covid jabs yesterday, I’m not 65 until November but they gave me the over 65 flu jab. The only thing they were concerned about was whether or not I am allergic to egg. So far all ok just slightly tender at the injection sites.
Thank you Bertie! Hope all goes well for you! My arm is tender too this morning. I am always scared of a flare up when I have these jabs as Pred is there to dampen down our immune system but the adjuvent in these jabs is there to improve it!!! Seems contra indicative to me!
Whenever I have reacted to vaccinations, I have always started to feel a bit off a very short time after, within a couple of hours, and gradually feel worse over the next 6-12 hours. I would say that if you were feeling OK when you first posted this, you have most likely got away with it. Anyway, worry and stress is one of the worst things for your PMRs, so I would say, go and do something that makes you happy and put it out of your mind. x
If it helps at all, I had the two Shingrix vaccines a couple of years ago, and one reason people have been a bit wary of it is because it uses a fairly strong and unique adjuvant, and although I reacted strongly to this vaccine, the best outcome was my pred taper which had been a bit difficult for a while following a flare settled down and since then I've, generally speaking, been much better. So adjuvant in itself probably will have no real effect on any pre-existing condition, and if it does it could well be a positive one.
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