Flu shots

[TXteacher]

I've been reading a lot about how aggressive this year's flu strain is. Does anyone know if flu shots are advisable for those of us with Cll?

[AussieNeil Administrator]

Definitely have the vaccination provided it is non-live. Read this comprehensive pinned post on recommend vaccinations for us: healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Neil

[caven in reply to AussieNeil]

In the USA the vaccination by injection is not live; however, the flu-mist (aerolised spray up the nose) is live, albeit attenuated. For maximum safety this latter approach should be avoided. Note, too, that the CLL person should encourage members of their household to avoid live forms ~ such as the 'flu-mist' ~ since there's a possibility (probably tiny but not zero) that this can be passed from person to person.

Caven

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to caven]

Good advice!

The CLL person should also encourage their household members to be vaccinated to reduced the likelihood of catching the flu from them i.e. 'herd immunity' .

[cook4650 in reply to AussieNeil]

I wish someone would tell that to my daughter the school teacher, who won't vaccinate either herself or my two grandkids. She truly doesn't get it. I know she would never intentionally expose me.

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to cook4650]

Problem is that people can be contagious with infections without being aware that they are ill...

[cook4650 in reply to AussieNeil]

Oh, I am aware! My daughter insists that the only times in her life when she had a flu shot, she "gets the flu." And she teaches grimy 9th graders all day. Then comes home to two teenagers...also unvaccinated.

[SeymourB in reply to AussieNeil]

The link that Neil posted is especially important, because it also mentions several other vaccines, especially the 2 pneumonia vaccines. Most of the people suffering complications or death from flu acquire some form of pneumonia, which severely stresses their lungs and immune system.

[richutchens]

Yes. I got a flu shot at CVS never ever having a flu shot in my life. It seemed to me too risky not having one after watching all the deaths of young and old on TV.

[RJR1]

My cancer doc says flu shot yes... pneumonia shot no

[uihwki in reply to RJR1]

I've been two CLL specialists (Duke and U of Colorado). Each has advised to get both pneumonia vaccinations which I did when first diagnosed several years ago.

[cook4650 in reply to uihwki]

My CLL specialist says yes to both as well.

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer in reply to RJR1]

Why is your doctor recommending against the pneumonia shots?

[annabelle63]

Ive never had one and never will People here in Ontario are getting sick even with the flu shot

[cook4650 in reply to annabelle63]

Same is happening here in NY State, but not FROM the flu shot. This year's strain is particularly nasty and the existing vaccine isn't as comprehensive as has been in other years. You should still get the shot.

[SeymourB]

I found out recently that CDC in the US says that this year, those over 65, people should get the high dose, trivalent Fluzone (which is the IIV, or inactivated influenza virus, and not the LAIV, or live virus):

cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine...

As I am not yet 65, my GP was unsure about giving the high dose vaccine to me. I am stage 0, and have hypogammaglobulinema (as do most of us) - below normal immunoglobulin levels. So he gave me the normal dose. So far, so good.

In the US, vaccination recommendations have been gathered together in one place on the CDC web site. You can Google 2018 ACIP to find them all. Busy GPs may not know this. It's what my GP checked to see if there were instructions for high dose Fluzone for immunocompromised people.

I do not go out in crowds much, but I've taken to wearing a mask when I visit the clinic or hospital. They are generally available at pharmacies or chemist's, or from Amazon. There are also fashionable, high efficiency masks that are gaining popularity:

vogmask.com/

Such masks are good for both you and for family members with active respiratory infections. They are no substitute for the flu vaccine, though.

Finally, continue careful hand washing several times a day. Flu can be acquired by hand to face (eyes, nose, or mouth) contact, even if you do not inhale droplets from someone's cough or sneeze. It could be on a door handle, elevator or lift button.

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer in reply to SeymourB]

Advice from a doctor when we were dealing with smoke, soot and ash from the zthomas fire - surgical masks (the flat acordian type) keep your germs in. To keep outside things - germs, or in our case pollutants our you need a NIOSH certified N 95 or N 99 mask. No guarantee of preventing illness, but betters the odds. Vog masks are certified.

[Big_Dee]

I have had flu shots for years, I am 70 yrs. old, Diagnosed with CLL Aug 2017. I did not have flu shot this year due to wife's advise, she works at hospital where it is mandatory for hospital staff. she had flu shot. We both have flu now, but progressing through it. If you have family in school system, you are going to contact flu. Flu shots are mixed bag, but I try to get on top of it so I do not develop pneumonia, which I have never had. Eat healthy!

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

My doctors have always recommended flu shots. The latest reports that I've seen are that this year's shot is not as effective against the current strain of flu, but that those who have had the shot seem to not get as sick with it. Both pneumonia shots and the DPT, which includes whooping cough - bad outbreak here and other places in the US - are recommended as well.