Live vaccine with hydroxyurea ?: I have et jak... - MPN Voice

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Live vaccine with hydroxyurea ?

Island-Lady profile image
18 Replies

I have et jak 2 positive. I am on hydroxyurea 500 mg every three days. My understanding is that I cannot have a live vaccine and therefore not the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Does anyone know more about this? I will probably not be able to get a vaccine for a couple of months because where I live in Hawaii they are still doing 75 and up and I am 69, but I want to be prepared. I have not been able to reach my oncologist. I am hoping to be able to get the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine but I don’t know what choices will be available to me.

I would appreciate any feedback.

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Island-Lady profile image
Island-Lady
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18 Replies
JediReject profile image
JediReject

Hi Octopedes, , I wasn't aware of this having been avoiding news of late especially around Covid and vaccines but you peaked my curiosity. I see it is a single shot dose that uses a weakened live pathogen. By all means try and check with your Oncologist but I think he or she will advise you have one of the others as you're taking HU.

If your roll out system is as robust as here in UK you should be asked a few key questions before you're given any of the vaccines. And in the case of the single shot I would expect them to check everyone's eligibility first. If in any doubt you should ask those administering it.

Good Luck to you when you get that call.

Regards - Chris

Island-Lady profile image
Island-Lady in reply to JediReject

Thank you🌈

Runner999 profile image
Runner999 in reply to JediReject

No- it uses a deactivated cold virus . jnj.com/latest-news/things-...

JediReject profile image
JediReject in reply to Runner999

OK thanks for that , I will take a look , , it's so hard to keep apace with developments or trust what you read sometimes. . . Chris

Wyebird profile image
Wyebird

I’m afraid I can’t help but my heamo says you need to weigh up the risks.Good luck

netty64 profile image
netty64

Morning,I've had the Astra Zenica which is not a live vaccine neither is the Pfizer vaccine.

Island-Lady profile image
Island-Lady in reply to netty64

Thank you. I look forward to being able to get the vaccine

Jennytheb profile image
Jennytheb

Hi my haematologist hasn't differentiated between vaccines and I am not sure the Astra one is live (one that is being used currently here anyway. He just advised us to get vaccinated, I am ET Jac2 positive like you, had Pfizer 1st vac and am fine. Good luck with your vaccination. Jenny

Jenny_F profile image
Jenny_F

I’ve read that none of the registered vaccines are live so I would double check that. I had my first dose of the Oxford vaccine 3 weeks ago and I felt like I had mild flu for a couple of days so I think thats probably as bad as it gets. Rather feeling a bit off for a few days than die of covid. I know too many people that were seemingly healthy with ages as young as 37 that have died from it so the benefits really do outweigh the risks.

Island-Lady profile image
Island-Lady in reply to Jenny_F

Thank you. I definitely look forward to when they have a vaccine available for my age group

ChattyPanda profile image
ChattyPanda

My understanding is while taking HU (hydroxyurea) we shouldn’t get any vaccine with a virus in it. My hematologist has encouraged me to get either of the RNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) asap ( but for now I’m choosing not to get any vaccine).

AirconBob profile image
AirconBob in reply to ChattyPanda

I've been on HU for 6 years, Had the Pfizer vaccine 5 weeks ago and apart from minor symptoms am fine - listen to your Heamo and get yourself covered now - or I won't be able to sleep at night!

Runner999 profile image
Runner999 in reply to ChattyPanda

Why? The dangers from the virus are far greater than those from the vaccine. A load of info here including links to the 3 vaccines available in UK

mpnvoice.org.uk/news/covid-...

Very few vaccines are "live" -and no CV19 ones that I can see - but you can google that.

Jenny_F profile image
Jenny_F in reply to ChattyPanda

None of them have a live virus, most vaccines aren’t. Please get a vaccine as Covid is the nastiest thing I have encountered and I have lost close friends to it

Ebot profile image
Ebot

As far as I understand the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is an adenovirus viral vector vaccine exactly like the Astra Zeneca Vaccine. Therefore it is also an attenuated vaccine and not ‘live’. There should be no reason why you cannot have it.

And although we don’t understand everything about the efficacy of all these different vaccines, especially for people with MPNs, on balance it’s a wise decision to take whatever protection they might offer.

Island-Lady profile image
Island-Lady in reply to Ebot

Thank you

Hydrox profile image
Hydrox

I have not had any advice from my hematologist regarding the vaccine, but personally I have had the astra zeneca as I want to live to see my grandchildren. I have decided that having the vaccine is the only sensibly way to go if you want to survive this virus. Two of my friends have had the jab and both got the covid virus, they were very sick for a while but have recovered without hospitalisation, I think that says it all, go get it done.

Runner999 profile image
Runner999

jnj.com/latest-news/things-...

Per J&J s own website the cold virus is deactivated before being edited. Some sites on line say it is "live attenuated" - but this appears to be erroneous. The manufacturer should know!

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