Vaccinations

[Mazzmar]

Does anyone know if I can have typhoid and tetanus vaccinations? I have been diagnosed with CLL but have minimum symptoms and no treatment.

[Gigi3410]

Generally speaking, live vaccines (typhoid, shingles among them) are not recommended for CLL patients. Tetanus is not a live vaccine. Certainly discuss this with your doctor.

[PaulaS Volunteer]

Hi Mazzmar,

Gigi has already answered your question about typhoid and tetanus vaccs. But as you are new to this site and seem to be in early stages of CLL, I thought I'd copy a reply I wrote earlier, about recommended vaccinations for folk with CLL.

The sooner these are done, the better, because as our disease progresses, we get much weaker responses to vaccinations. (Having said that, I didn't have any vaccs till quite late in my disease, and I still got good responses to them).

1) Annual vaccs for flu.

2) Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIb). This is different from the annual flu vacc.

3) Two pneumonia vaccs - first PCV 13 (also known as Prevnar 13), then at least 8 weeks later - PPSV23 (also called Pneumovax 23)

4) Consider boosters for tetanus/diptheria/pertussis (whooping cough), if it's been over 10 years since previous vaccs for these.

5) Consider Meningococcol vaccs (There are different vaccs for different strains. I had vaccs for MenC and MenB, followed by boosters).

6) Consider Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B

There are some “considers” here, so it's always a good idea to check with your haematologist, in case there are reasons why you shouldn't have any of the vaccs listed. (eg If you've had some of the vaccines before, or if you're in the middle of treatment, recommendations may be different). If your doctor is reluctant to give you any, it could be helpful to print off the following document to show him. (Browse down to the second chart for the bit relevant to us) .

cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/...

This list is from a much longer post I wrote last year, where I listed lots of helpful points I'd gathered from other people's experiences of living with CLL, as well as my own. I was prompted to write it, because many newly diagnosed people are not told about the many practical things they can do, to improve their prospects on the CLL journey.

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

You might find some other things there, that are helpful.

Wishing you all the best on your CLL journey,

Best wishes,

Paula

[PaulaS Volunteer]

Hi again Mazzmar,

I just found a link posted by Cllcanada a few months ago. bmb.oxfordjournals.org/cont...

It lists vaccines to be avoided with CLL, and vaccines that are permissible. And I see that the oral typhoid vaccine is listed as "to be avoided", but the typhoid injection is listed as permissible. I think the article is from 2008, so it's possible that things might have changed. But if you're feeling the need for protection against typhoid, it might be worth asking your doctor about the typhoid injection.

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Paula