flu jab with adjuvent: My lovely gurus. I am so... - PMRGCAuk

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flu jab with adjuvent

Smokygirl profile image
39 Replies

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 profile image
Smokygirl
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39 Replies
PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

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.

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toPMRpro

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.

Do you raise your Pred when you have yours?

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toSmokygirl

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?

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toPMRpro

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

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toSmokygirl

Oh right - doesn't appear on any of their website pages! But I don't think we are really very compromised relatively speaking.

Suedeshayes profile image
Suedeshayes in reply toPMRpro

Hi PMRpro

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?

Sue x

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toSuedeshayes

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.

Suedeshayes profile image
Suedeshayes in reply toPMRpro

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.

AliDeJ profile image
AliDeJ in reply toSmokygirl

I'm on pred and Tocilizumab and was given the over 65 flu jab 3 days ago even though I'm under 65! No problems yet.

Poshcards profile image
Poshcards in reply toSmokygirl

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

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toPoshcards

Thanks Poshcards! Everyone else seems to have managed OK so hopefully all will be well! Thanks so much for the info! Xxx

Iamfedup profile image
Iamfedup in reply toPMRpro

Thought there was only one!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toIamfedup

What - flu jab? No, under 65 and over 65 ...

Iamhappy profile image
Iamhappy in reply toPMRpro

They usually ask your date of birth before they give it you.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

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 -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Hopefully no adverse affects, but take paracetamol for the next day or so…. Shouldn’t need to up Pred…..

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toDorsetLady

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’ll report in for the next few days! Xx

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toSmokygirl

Fingers crossed no issues -I had my Covid jab to morning - in and out in a matter of minutes…

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toDorsetLady

Hubby and I had ours 10 days ago. I was fine but Hubby was really unwell for two days after—- temperature and bad headache!

I’m sure you too will be fine!xxxx

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toSmokygirl

No problem as yet -thanks😊

piglette profile image
piglette

It is so easy to forget things like that. How are you feeling now? You may find that you are fine.

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply topiglette

Hello Piglette! I only had it at 8:30 am this morning so not enough time to tell really! Xxx

piglette profile image
piglette in reply toSmokygirl

I react in about three hours, but hopefully you will be OK. Have you got a sore arm?

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply topiglette

It is a bit sore now—- nothing much—- it is now 14 hours after I had the jab. However my reactions are usually two days later!

piglette profile image
piglette in reply toSmokygirl

Fingers crossed!!

Koalajane profile image
Koalajane

I have always, since being over 65, had the over 65 jab with no issues

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toKoalajane

That’s really good to know, thank you, xxxx

Highlandtiger profile image
Highlandtiger

I had it 10 days ago along with my Covid one and have been absolutely fine.

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toHighlandtiger

Great! That is really reassuring! Xxxx

Bertiebeagle profile image
Bertiebeagle

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.

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toBertiebeagle

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!

Gimme profile image
Gimme

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

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toGimme

Hello Gimme! Hope you are right! Going for a walk now as the sun is shining! Thanks so much! X

Pusph profile image
Pusph

I had the over 65 one yesterday!

Tractor_Fan profile image
Tractor_Fan

For 4.5 mg dose, are you slicing a 5mg pill?

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toTractor_Fan

Best option is half a 5mg plus 2x1mg

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toTractor_Fan

No, I use a 2.5mg pill plus two 1mg pills. Both are available at my chemist. Xxx

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

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. :)

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toHeronNS

How interesting Heron! Thank you for the reassurance, much appreciated!

However four years ago I had the live Shingles vaccine and 7 days later I had PMR!

Good job it is no longer live, as you know! Xxxx

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply toSmokygirl

Exactly. I would not have taken Zostavax had it been offered, whether or not I had PMR.

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