Flu vaccines?

[Hindags]

This is a quick question. I've taken a flu shot for many years, usually in September. I believe I've read that some vaccinations are contraindicated while on Pred. But I don't know if ALL vaccinations are contraindicated. Any advice?

[Tigger6717]

HI

You should be wary of live or attenuated, (weakened) vaccines. but if your surgery has dead flu vaccine then it should be OK. Check with your Rheumy to be sure.

[Hindags in reply to Tigger6717]

Thank you. I'll be having a phone conference with her next week and will certainly ask. Would have never known to inquire about live/attenuated vs dead vaccine. Are the dead vaccines much less effective?

[Tigger6717 in reply to Hindags]

As far as I know in regards to flu they are equally effective, it's holiday type jabs you need to be wary of.

[SheffieldJane]

My GP particularly urged me to have the flu vaccine last year. I suffered no ill effects, had a couple of viruses, pretty glad I didn't get full blown flu.

[Slowdown]

I've had the flu vaccine for many years, no adverse reaction since having it alongside PMR.

[SusyTe]

My rheumy said to have the flu vaccine and it would be ok as it is not a live vaccine. Had it last year - bit hot and sweaty for a few days afterwards - but then these days I am always hot and sweaty! X

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Had it all the time I was on Pred - no adverse effect.

[jannie21 in reply to DorsetLady]

Me too, been having it for years because of other problems and also took it all through Pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You need the flu shot! It's fine as it is not the live bug.

You shouldn't have any LIVE vaccinations - i.e. where the living microorganism that causes the disease is used. Killed vaccines are fine.

[Jennafer in reply to PMRpro]

Please can you tell me if the shingles vaccination is considered ok whilst on pred? I am currently on 4 mg. I live in Jersey and people in my age group of early 70s have been offered it free for a limited time. Thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jennafer]

One of the listed side effects on the manufacturer's data sheet for the shingles vaccine is PMR. So nothing would induce me to have it.

Officially I think it is claimed to be safe for pred doses below 15-20mg - but that isn't to do with PMR! Nor does it comment on whether it works when you are on higher doses of pred. The older you are, the less effective it is at preventing shingles and post herpetic neuralgia (which is the main reason for having it done) anyway. If it might worsen my PMR - not on your life!!!

You will find this post interesting I think:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Trixiechamp in reply to PMRpro]

I wonder if there's any correlation between shingles and PMR/GCA. I know I've now been potentially diagnosed with Takayasu's Arteritis but my son had shingles two years ago (at 14 which was unsual) and looking back it was around the time my symptoms started to worsen (fatigue and aching pains)...coincidence maybe - but interesting given the vaccine info.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Trixiechamp]

There is a group that claims to have found the virus concerned in GCA biopsies - and postulate cause and effect. That is a bit OTT, correlation is not causation and there are many patients who have had chicken pox but not GCA and vice versa.

There possibly IS link - the final straw that overloaded the immune system. But shingles is just a reawakening of the virus which is dormant in nerve endings after an earlier attack of chicken pox so it has been there for a long time. Theoretically you CAN catch CP from someone with shingles - but you can't catch shingles.

[Myosotis in reply to Trixiechamp]

I had a mild attack of shingles and got PMR straight after it. Unfortunately the doctors (I saw 3) all thought it was just a post-shingles condition so it went undiagnosed and developed into GCA. It looked like the shingles caused the PMR, but they could have just had a common cause, particularly that I was under a lot of stress at the time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Myosotis]

There is a new study - retrospective, looking at old data - that you might be interested in:

medpagetoday.com/Rheumatolo...

It DOES seem to be just complicated shingles and GCA in this case and also based just on medical claims in the USA which is hardly exhaustive - but it is interesting.

[Myosotis in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, PMRpro. That's very interesting.

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

What I note in this post (link in PMRpro's comment above) is the statement that flu vaccine isn't very effective in older people. "As we get older, it’s more difficult for our immune systems to mount an antibody response in response to a vaccine. That’s why the flu shot isn’t very effective for senior citizens."

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

Exactly - so what did the UK decide to do when catching up? They started with the over 80s - what a waste of money!!!!!

[Jennafer in reply to PMRpro]

Goodness PMRpro, that seems to be a pretty definitive answer to my question! Decision made to decline the kind shingles vaccine offer. Thank you so much for answering with your usual informed approach. I haven't asked for advice along the PMR road before, but very glad that I did today.

Jennafer.

[1Purplecrow]

I have gotten my flu vaccine every year of my 4 year PMR journey. No adverse effects.

I Highly recommend this vaccine because we do have a lowered resistance, and the flu is a very serious illness.

Kind regards, Jerri