Immunizations galore

[WileyFrench]

My haemo has me set up to get a shingles shot and two pneumonia shots, because of my immune system being potentially lower due to the hydroxyurea. Public health nurse says I should also get a meningitis vaccination and an updated tetanus shot. All this before I even get my annual flu shot in the fall. I have ET and take HU 1 tablet per day 5 days a week. Has everyone/anyone else got all those vaccinations? I’m fine with doing it, and am fairly new to this whole thing, so just wondering if this is something you all went through at the start. Needles R Us!

[ChrisAnnSen]

I've been told not to have a shingles jab as it is live. (Actually I had it 3 months before being diagnosed.) Don't know about the others as have never been offered them except for flu which I have every year. I have ET and Jak2.

[WileyFrench in reply to ChrisAnnSen]

Public health tells me the shingles vaccination prescribed (Shingrix) is actually not live. They said the older ones were but this is not, so maybe that’s why it’s okay.

[Tico]

Hi wileyfrench, i've had the pneumonia shot several years ago but gp recommended it because of my respiratory problems rather than my et.i'm also offered flu jab every year for the same reason,the others you mention have never been discussed with me. Atb tina.🤗

[fannetastic]

GP would not give me any live vaccine which includes Shingles. I have had the pneumonia and flu jab, no problems. I am on Hydroxy. .

[WileyFrench in reply to fannetastic]

I am told the shingles shot they’re now prescribing (Shingrix) isn’t live, but previous ones were. Likely why it’s okay now to have. I hope!

[kp27kathleen in reply to WileyFrench]

I have also been told that

[Swede]

Yes,had pneumonia and flu(every year) plus hep.B and updating a few others.But no live vaccine as is sorts of works the other way.

[WileyFrench in reply to Swede]

That’s what I understand too re live vaccines. But they tell me the shingles shot now prescribed (Shingrix) is not live. Hmmmm.

[Swede in reply to WileyFrench]

No, I have had pneumonia and then flu.vac every year. Not both.!!

[Tico in reply to Swede]

Hi swede,are you mistaken when you say you've had pnuemomia jab every year? When i had mine,gp told me it would last 5/10 years. I do know when you have it at 65 you are then protected for life thereafter. I will dicuss this with gp when i next visit,maybe their are different types of pnuemonia vaccines...? 🤔 Atb tina.🤗

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

Hi Wiley-French, you cannot have any live vaccine whilst you are taking Hydroxyurea, you should therefore discuss this with the nurse and the doctor. The shingles vaccine is a live vaccine. Maz

[WileyFrench in reply to Mazcd]

Hi Maz - the haemo prescribed the shingles shot and the two pneumonia vaccines. And yesterday public health nurse told me that they are all not live. She said an older shingles shot was live but this one (brand name Shingrix) is not. In the UK maybe that’s not the shot given?

[Swede in reply to WileyFrench]

One is live and one is ....dead. Shingrix is the preferred vaccine, over Zostavax® (zoster vaccine live), a shingles vaccine in use since 2006.

[WileyFrench in reply to Swede]

Yup - you’re right. Shingrix was approved by Health Canada (where I am) in 2017 for use this year. And it’s not live.

[WileyFrench]

And now I’ve learned a bit more : in 2017 Shingrix became the first non-live shingles vaccine approved in Canada and became available to the public this year. So that’s why it’s okay for me to get it. Plus the two pneumonia vaccines prescribed are non-live. I’ll double check with public health on the meningitis one though before I get it but I’m pretty sure it’s not live either. So a pincushion I shall be!

[Swede]

Shingrix is the preferred vaccine, over Zostavax® (zoster vaccine live), a shingles vaccine in use since 2006. ,,,is what I can find. So, yes, go ahead!

[Jackgirl10]

Not a bad idea Ive just had shingles and it was painful. As well as making you more fatigued than normal.

[WileyFrench in reply to Jackgirl10]

I agree. I had a “mild” case of shingles just over a year ago (before being in hydroxy) and it was pretty awful. So I certainly don’t want to know what it would be like on a “compromised” immune system.

[Borage]

So many of my friends have had shingles recently and have been ill for weeks. I really don’t want it with ET.

Shouldn’t the inactivated version, Shingrix, be made available to vulnerable patients who cannot have Zostavax?

[WileyFrench in reply to Borage]

My haemo only mentioned Shingrix. I think it’s likely taken the place of the older live vaccine.

[wgsutherland]

Did you get your vaccinations, I was told not to get the new MMR, because it is a live vaccine and I am also on Hydroxyurea. We were fortunate that a Vancouver BC member of the board for MPN Canada intervened on my behalf and our new Hematologist is touted as the top !PN doctor in Western Canada. As well our GP is taking every opportunity to become acquainted with our affliction. In my case PMF. Not too sure what the difference is between PMF and MF, but will now have to google it.

[WileyFrench in reply to wgsutherland]

I did get my vaccinations - two pneumonia, Shingles, tetanus and another anti-viral one. All not live so all those were okay.

[WileyFrench in reply to WileyFrench]

And is your top MPN haemo in Vancouver?