Flu vaccine while on Prednisolone

[Patchworkqueen]

I'm due to have a flu jab but there appears to be conflicting advice on the 'net regarding the safety of it while taking Pred. Has anyone had any experience of this?

[polkadotcom]

I've been on steroids for almost 14 years and have been having a flu jab for about the last 20 years. The only time I have had any problem was the year I had the jab very late (due to a shortage) and of course I came into contact with a flu virus shortly after receiving the jab. I now go very early every year as I don't want to be that ill ever again!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Had it the last couple of years since being on Pred, no problems. Due again next week. DorsetLady

[Annodomini]

I've had PMR for three years and have also had the flu jab every year with no ill effects. No-one suggested that it was contra-indicated while taking pred. I'd much rather not have flu.

[silver41]

Hello Patchwork Queen, I am very new and this is my first post, but can answer your question. I have GCA and PMR and although my pred dose is very low now, I had flu jab when I was taking 50mg/day of pred earlier this year.

There were no ill effects of any kind, but it may vary with what exactly is in the flu jab. I live in Australia and as I am 73 have been getting free jab every winter for years, so it must be pretty standard. Hope this helps, my doctor assured me it was fine.

[Runrig01]

Despite having it documented that my PMR was probably triggered early by flu vaccine (I developed PMR 4 days after first flu vaccine). I still have it each year, as if you get flu you are highly likely to have a flare of PMR. With the vaccine since have a few days of muscles worsening then quickly subsides. I will be having it again this year. Runrigx

[bluejaygirl in reply to Runrig01]

You say you had it documented? What exactly do you mean? I for one do not ever get the flu jab. But on the other hand, wanting to be fair to the argument on both sides, in your case it "could" have been a coincidence. I always read about cases where things like autism they believe can be caused by foreign DNA in certain innoculations. Did you have any doctors feel it was caused by the flu jab?

[Runrig01 in reply to bluejaygirl]

Hi Bluejay girl. I have 2 Rheumys who both agree and have documented in my medical records that my PMR was probably triggered by my vaccine. This is partly as I am very "atypical" at having PMR at 46. I should point out they have said it will be the additives that help the vaccine to be delivered that causes the problem, and not the "dead virus". Additives commonly used are aluminium or mercury, and have been associated at triggering auto immune diseases in people already susceptible. Hope this makes sense. Regards Runrig

[bluejaygirl in reply to Runrig01]

I was given a very strong antibiotic and came down with PMR shortly thereafter at 52

[Runrig01 in reply to bluejaygirl]

Sorry to hear, it seems there are so many triggers. My aunt had PMR, so specialists reckon I would probably have succumbed to it later in life. Who knows :-?

[Jora]

I was told that it's essential to have it as well as the pneumonia one. So I'm booked in to get it early.

[1Purplecrow]

I have PMR, on 6 mg pred.

I, also, was concerned about the flu vaccine. When I talked to the pharmacist, he said his wife was on long-term prednisone and took the vaccine with no ill effects. I got the vaccine last week, and didn't have any negative effect.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is "live" vaccines that are a problem when on pred. Flu vaccine is "dead" so not a concern.