Nasal flu Vaccine - mycophenolate

[jo100]

I have sle and am on hydroxychloroquine and mycophenolate.

I am also a nurse and am planning taking a job administering the intranasal flu vaccine to school kids this year between October and December. It's just occurred to me that this vaccine is live and I wondered if that was risky as I may be exposed to the vaccine myself. I don't think live vaccines and mycophenolate mix.

Advice/discussion please.

[Hidden]

Hi Jo. Can you use surgical gloves whenever you are administering it perhaps or talk to occupational health? Live vaccine contact does seem a bit of a no no for anyone on immune suppressant meds I would have thought. Sorry not much help. Twitchy

[misty14]

Hi Jo

I think you need to ask advice from your doctors or Occupational health about MycophenolAte and live vaccines?. It's a good question !. Hope you get it sorted.X

[jmeerkat]

Hi joo100, I am also taking mycophenocalte and am a nurse. I discussed this topic with my consultant as I administer theses and zostavac which is live shingles. He said the risk was very small with giving either of these vaccines. I did have my antibodies for chicken pix checked though. I will be giving these vaccines but I think you should probable get advice for yourself. Hope it helps a little. Meerkat x

[jmeerkat]

Hi joo100, I am also taking mycophenocalte and am a nurse. I discussed this topic with my consultant as I administer theses and zostavac which is live shingles. He said the risk was very small with giving either of these vaccines. I did have my antibodies for chicken pix checked though. I will be giving these vaccines but I think you should probable get advice for yourself. Hope it helps a little. Meerkat x

[jmeerkat]

Hi joo100, I am also taking mycophenocalte and am a nurse. I discussed this topic with my consultant as I administer theses and zostavac which is live shingles. He said the risk was very small with giving either of these vaccines. I did have my antibodies for chicken pix checked though. I will be giving these vaccines but I think you should probable get advice for yourself. Hope it helps a little. Meerkat x

[Whathappned]

Hi Jo

Did you get anywhere with this. I take methotrexate and at the time of planning the Flu day at our clinic I didn't give it a thought. We usually see at least 800 people in the day, mostly injecting flu. I have only started methotrexate this year but I noticed before Lupus had been mentioned that it normally leaves me exhausted and 'not right' and had got worse until last years day. Last year I made sure I had my flu as soon as they arrived and before flu day. This seemed to help. If possible I get the other qualified to do the live vaccines when there are so many at one time, especially the nasal spray for kids. I haven't asked this question but I doubt anyone will have cared enough check.

All I know is there was a lot of questions as to who could have the shingles and a big fuss made checking if people on the likes of methotrexate could have it. I still didn't get a straight answer so each person ends up with a letter to their consultant. Again I tend to ask a colleague to do them. Flu day is easy they come to one area for the flu then go to another for shingles.

I would love to hear if you have any news x

[jo100]

Just to update on what's happened. I have decided not to do the nasal flu vaccine. My Rheumatologist advised me not to go anywhwere near live vacine. I was not happy so went to the study day anyway. Acording to the literature, "very severely immunospupressed individuals should not administer live attenuated flu vaccine. Other healthcare workers who are immunospupressed or pregnant, should follow normal clinical practice to avoid inhaling the vaccine and ensure that they are appropriately vaccinated." Even though I fall into the second group, my immune system in lower than they would like just now. I don't want to make myself ill so as I don't have to do it I have made the decision not to do it.

I hate not being able to do everything I want to do, as I was really looking forward to immunising this year. Seems like I'm goimg to have to stick to 12 hr night shift for now.