Pneumonia booster necessary or not?

[Ruhi9]

I had the pneumonia vaccination in December 2014 - almost 6 years ago, and a couple of weeks ago I asked my haematology consultant if I should have the booster. He thought I should, but wasn't 100% sure, so he said to ask my doctors surgery nurse.

So I asked the surgery nurse, and she said it was only necessary for those who had problems with their spleen or kidneys, but she would ask my doctor and get her to phone me back. The GP phoned me today and said people with CLL are not listed as needing boosters, and to ask my Macmillan haematology nurse. She said to tell her that my GP had said CLL'ers are not listed in the NHS Green Book as needing the booster, and the Macmillan nurse would know what that meant.

I've just googled it, and the following advice suggests I should have a booster only once I'm 65 (in 3 years):

"All adults 65 years of age or older should receive one dose of PPSV23 5 or more years after any prior dose of PPSV23, regardless of previous history of vaccination with pneumococcal vaccine. No additional doses of PPSV23 should be administered following the dose administered at 65 years of age or older."

Can anyone shed light on this issue... should I or should I not have the booster?

Many thanks for your help, Ruhi.

[GMa27]

Prevnar 13 first then a year later Neumovax 23. Booster 5 years later.

Hopefully someone has the link to the website. Try this site.

cdc.gov/pneumococcal/vaccin...

Depends on age and immune system.

[AussieNeil Administrator]

This pinned post covers the vaccination recommendations for us: healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

It seems that those you have spoken to about whether you need a booster, haven't taken into account your immune compromised status, or recognised CLL as a leukaemia. PaulaS , who wrote and maintains the above pinned post, references this NHS document nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinati... which states (with my emphasis): "Adults and children who are severely immunocompromised (including anyone with leukaemia, multiple myeloma, genetic disorders affecting the immune system, or after a bone marrow transplant) usually have a single dose of PCV followed by PPV."

That's the desired order, but I presume you had the PPV (pnemovax23) vaccination, so you should now have the Prevnar13 Pneumoccocal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV).

That's covered under the column 'Asplenia, splenic dysfunction, complement disorder or severe immunocompromise' in the bottom row of the Green Book here: guidelines.co.uk/immunisati...

Neil

[Ruhi9 in reply to AussieNeil]

Thanks for your reply Neil and apologies for taking so long to respond - several health issues going on right now so I'm a bit preoccupied.

The Macmillan nurse had been away and has just got back to me to say I should ask my doctor at my next review about the pneumonia vaccine. So I feel like I'm going round in circles. I guess I'll have to wait 3 years until I'm 65 to have the booster, as that seems to be the official line in the UK. But I'll ask my doctor again when I next see her.

Have a lovely Christmas and thanks again for all your help on the CLL site!

Ruhi

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

GMA is correct, but is speaking from perspective of US Center for Disease Control.

The following PINNED POST speaks to the need and the fact of many GPs not knowing of the need for CLLers:

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

[devonrr]

I’m the same as you. I ask the haematology consultant if I needed another pneumonia jab since it’s now 5 years, and yes. She wrote to my GP.

I spoke to my GP and he said yes, every 5 years, so book an appointment.

Spoke to appointments, they are having difficulty getting the vaccine at the moment so I’m on the waiting list.

Which type who knows and I won’t stress whilst waiting.

[BluMts]

Many here including me, have been told Firmly and repeatedly that they should not have a second vaccine against pneumonia. I was told I do not fall into the same category as people who have lost their .. Follow the advice in AussieNeil's post here and also try convincing your Doctors you need the vaccine.