A Newer Type Flu Vaccine, Stronger Dose

[EPguy]

I recently posted on selecting the Moderna Covid vax for its larger dose. There is actually a similar choice available for the flu vax.

Flu vax is traditionally made by growing it in chicken eggs, this is why you see warnings about any egg allergies. But this process is slow so they need to guess which flu to grow in the eggs long before we start catching it. Hence they often miss which flu to target.

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A newer type shot is now available in US (~2015) and UK as of last year. It's the brand Flublok and starting in 2022 in US it is recommended for seniors. It does not require eggs and supposedly is signif more effective with fewer adverse effects.I looked for and got this one.

I had near zero side effects, usually I get some from a flu vax. With its claimed better efficacy vs regular vax it's worth considering.

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"The commercial formulation of Flublok contains three times the amount of HA (active ingredient) compared with the standard dose IIVs (egg vaxes) and consequently induces higher antibody titers, which may be of particular importance to those most at risk for influenza (for example, the elderly...or immunologically compromised... "

If you're senior, this new one is really worth considering: "... adverse events in Flublok recipients are generally much less frequent than those observed with Fluzone HD" (HD is the stronger formulation of egg based vax that is required for seniors)

Seems to be good even if the strain changes some: "Importantly, Flublok has demonstrated protective efficacy in a field efficacy trial against drifted influenza viruses"

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

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Image here is from the mfr. (SD-QIV is a regular egg type non-senior flu vax.) It seems a conventional senior high dose vax is similar effective but with more side effects as noted above.

sanofiflu.com/flublok-quadr...

[Exeter21]

thnx for this I will ask what they plan for me & hunt around for the good one 👍

[EPguy in reply to Exeter21]

You may have seen my recent post on this vax. With this result, it's possibly not a good idea if one is on IFN, but I can't say that is a reason for the trouble.

healthunlocked.com/mpnvoice...

[Exeter21 in reply to EPguy]

wow that’s spooky because it was after last years flu jab my shoulder problem became horrendous. I haven’t had it this year. My shoulder problem is still ongoing a year later with deltoid trouble. They still cannot pinpoint the cause or treat it so now had another MRI with dye . Thanks for this information . My physio who is into natural remedies also said that the Covid booster last year had caused a lot of side effects on shoulder issues . I have not had anymore vaccines currently until this shoulder issue resolved or IF . Thnx for info. Julia 👍

[EPguy in reply to Exeter21]

Your trouble predates your IFN regime. So it is something else in your case and possibly mine.

You indicate you had a pre-existing shoulder problem, but it got worse after the flu jab. What do you experience with the deltoid trouble?

My shoulder was totally fine till last week and Covid vax went fine on the other side with the normal transient post pain. I can move the arm and use the muscle without any pain or limit but the pain will come and go at any time very suddenly.

I just had xray, but this is a soft tissue thing, the xray guy agreed the tests need to go up the cost steps of xray, ultra sound, and finally MRI.

In the US there is the Vaers system to report vax troubles. I plan to do so once I learn more.

vaers.hhs.gov/

[Exeter21]

with my shoulder it has been a real problem originated after my booster & flu vaccines last year. But because I put it down to a possible sport injury sailing I brushed over the vaccines. It has not improved in a year. I have had X-rays 2 ultra sound 2 MRI scans over this year. All show nothing . They have just done the other MRI with dye to try & locate any soft tissue damage. My arm has restricted painful movement from shoulder to elbow feeling as though the muscle & tendons have no strength. I cannot raise it still without pain. I paid for physio & acupuncture recently & they say it is deltoid problem .

I am doing everything to repair it with excercise s etc but it doesn’t improve. I await my last MRI results & consultant meeting which is taking forever due to our current lack of staffing in NHS UK.

I have acupuncture today but so far not made much difference. Julia 👍

[EPguy in reply to Exeter21]

Understand. I'm expecting similar unsatisfying test results. My xray shows all ok in the bones as expected.

Did you get booster and flu in the same side shoulder? I can direct it to the flu since my bivalent was the other side.

I have made a neurology appt, I think mine is nerve. Last night was bad. But even with my good US insurance it's not till Feb. I hate to use too much pain reliever to not add to liver burden from Bes so I so far limit it to small dose at night only.

[Exeter21 in reply to EPguy]

Yes same shoulder left side . Flu one was a week after Covid booster. I have today had more acupuncture by v knowledgeable lady. She refused all Covid jabs & flu as she only uses homeopathic treatments & did not trust side effects of vaccines. Neither her or family got Covid or flu . However I like many more felt it was too risky to refuse then. I start to doubt now the reactions our bodies are having. The acupuncture has relieved some neck pain caused by the shoulder but still struggling to get the tendons & shoulder muscles to return to normal. She believes it is the lack of treatment for too long by our failing medics all overstretched during covid.

Unfortunately unless you pay private no one sees you over here . I hung on but taken forever until MRI . I was told to try press ups to strengthen shoulder . BUT I cannot raise myself more than a couple of inches , yet before injections last year I was fit & excercise easy. It’s a minefield & having read & tried everything I await to see what rubbish the consultant says after my last MRI . Good luck . Let’s hope we eventually get these shoulders working again 👍

[EPguy in reply to Exeter21]

I still will likely get vaxed in the future. We had covid early Mar '20 and it was a near death experience for my husband and we have long covid so the vax would have been nice.

But I will be very fussy about how and where the needle is placed. It seems these problems are usually from poorly placed needles and/or too long needles. Esp for smaller patients needle length is an issue.

I have just made appt to see a private neurologist, my in network can't see me till Feb and I don't want my nerves to fester that long. This is a sample of the "concierge" service in the US that is more common these days, pay more get more, the rainy day we save for has arrived.

Interesting the receptionist said they do see pts with vax troubles. Have you considered neurological aspects for your case?

[Exeter21 in reply to EPguy]

Thanks I will look into that. Yes we had the newcovid variant in September but not too bad lots of aches & razor blade throat lasted one week. Several friends here have just had Covid again following on from booster last month.

I have seen spinal injury consultant & trapped nerve in neck released . Once the mri results come back I will see if I can see neurology if no conclusive results many thanks Julia. 👍