Flu Jab type for ET aged 63

[Peachjoy]

I’ve just received my new Flu jab. 👍

I was told I have to have the one for people under 65, (I’m 63).

However, the flu jab for over 65 has additional boosters, because of declining immune responses in the over 65s.

Because of my ET, I also have a reduced immune response…yet although the pharmacist agreed that I should therefore have the one with boosters, I am not allowed to have it, because I’m 1.5 years too young🤨

Does anybody here know anything more?

[hunter5582]

ET should not lower your immune system but some of the medications used to treat ET can. This is why people taking hydroxycarbamide are advised not to take live vaccines.

Here in the USA the CDC recommends three different possible vaccines for people over 65.

Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, an inactivated vaccine (meaning it uses the killed version of the germ that causes a disease) approved for people 65-plus, contains four times the antigen of standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines. Antigen is the part of the vaccine that helps your body build up protection against flu viruses, the CDC explains.

Fluad Quadrivalent, also an inactivated vaccine approved for people 65 and older, has the same amount of antigen as the standard shots but contains an adjuvant, or an ingredient added to a vaccine that helps create a stronger immune response to vaccination.

Flublok Quadrivalent, approved for people 18 and older, is made using a different vaccine technology (it’s a recombinant protein vaccine).

aarp.org/health/conditions-...

You might want to see if the Flublok Quadrivalent vaccine is available where you are. It is one the boosted response list but is approved for all over age 18.

Hope that helps.

[Peachjoy in reply to hunter5582]

thank you Hunter for the clear descriptions I am not on active treatment, but according to my specialist (and the pharmacist who gave me my flu jab), I probably don’t have the most robust response to either the flu or the Covid vaccines due to the presence of ET in me.

[swimswam]

The same happened to me last year, when I was 64. I went at the same time as my husband who was 65, he received the one with the extra immune booster although he is perfectly healthy and I had to have the under 65 one with no extra immune response. Even the pharmacist who gave us the shots agreed that it seemed odd as I qualify for extra covid shots because I had ET on treatment and therefore may have less of an immune response.

[Sprat19]

if you are in the Uk 3 vaccines are available for the over 65’s age on 31/3/2023

Quadrivalent qiv)with adjuvant (fluad) most common

QIV c cell based

And QIV r recombant (flublock)

For over 2 and under 65 only the latter 2 are licensed and also the QIV e egg based but only to be given if the others aren’t available.

If you are under 65 and in the UK you should not be receiving the flu vaccine with adjuvant.

The change came a few years back when the elderly weren’t mounting a good immune response to the flu vaccine. By either adding and adjuvant or increasing the dose this was overcome. The UK opted out of using the high dose flu vaccine.

People with depressed immune systems may not mount a good immune response and if you are immune compromised your house hold should also be vaccinated with an age appropriate vaccine.

For 2-18 year olds the preferred vaccine in UK is LAIV the live nasal vaccine where appropriate.

[Peachjoy in reply to Sprat19]

thank you for the clear explanation

[MWxxxx]

Yeah, I've always wondered the same thing. I am taking hydroxy and have PV but too young for the flu vaccine with "extras". I just dont think the powers that be have considered it. The rules are over 65's get one vaccine and under 65's get the other - peoples immune responses are not taken into consideration with the flu vaccine in the UK. Family members should also get a flu shot and 17 and under is the live nasal spray vaccine but if there is someone in the household who is immune suppressed it should be the deactivated injection. However, my daughter doesn't like injections so I always let her have the live one and make sure that I have had my flu vaccine two weeks before. Apparently after the live vaccine you can be infectious to immunosuppressed people for a couple of weeks.

[Peachjoy in reply to MWxxxx]

it’s definitely something that needs reconsidering/reassessment

[MWxxxx in reply to Peachjoy]

Yes I agree, especially for those nearing 65. It doesn't make a lot of sense otherwise.