Flu jab ..?

[Polly2Cats]

Hi folks

I've been quiet for a while ... concentrating on trying to get back into work (yay!). It's as hard as I thought it would be but I'm up to four days a week which is miraculous bearing in mind where I was a few months ago.

Anyway ... I don't normally get colds and foolishly id assumed my immune system was so busy I would continue in the same way. How foolish I was. I've got a stinker that I can't shift.

I always have a flu jab (not for health reasons but because of my job). The timing of the jabs coincides with when I seem to get an annual flare (sjogrens and fatigue) so I'm a bit reluctant this time. I believe it's a live vaccine this year too.

Does anybody have any thoughts about whether to jab or not? I'll discuss with my doctor but I get the feeling he's not that up to speed with sjogrens. Stupidly I forgot to ask the rheumy this week!

Best wishes to you all

[PMRpro]

I think you are confusing the different sorts of flu vaccine. There is a nasal spray, mainly for children but also available for some adults, which IS a live vaccine and that is not recommended for anyone on immunosuppressant drugs. The jab though is always a killed vaccine so safe.

The chances are your doctor won't give it you until you have got rid of the cold - so you have time to contact your rheumy nurse (if you have one) and doublecheck.

[Sara_A]

The flu vaccine isn't a live vaccine, and as long as u don't have a fever u are ok to have. If u are feeling really awful with the cold tho maybe wait until u feel a bit better.

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi Polly2Cats ,

As PMRpro has said, the flu vaccine isn't live, but the nasal spray version (generally used in children) is a weakened version of the live virus.

If you want more information about the flu jab and lupus, please have a look at our article here - lupusuk.org.uk/flu-vaccinat...

[milkwoman]

If you get the flu vaccine ask for the Quadrivalent Intradermal Flu Vaccine. It is NOT a live virus, it protects against four strains (the normal shot is three strains) AND it isn't intramuscular so you don't get the usual arm soreness (it is injected into the skin only).

I got mine two weeks ago - no issues. I have lupus and Sjogrens.