Flu jab

[Rusty8]

Hi is it possible for the flu jab to cause problems l had flu jab on Monday and Tuesday onwards the pain I had just managed to ease of about came back and it’s been horrible since has any one else had problem like this I am struggling very hard with this pain can’t think what else can be going on

[Hollyseden]

Hope not. I'm due to get my first flu jab on Thursday so I'll be Interested to see the replies here.

[SheffieldJane]

The advice has always been that it is better for people with autoimmune diseases like us to have the flu jab, because flu is very bad news for us. The flu vaccine is not live. Having said that I felt really seedy for a few days after mine which surprised me, I was ok last year. I hope your symptoms pass off. Paracetamol helped, so it wasn't PMR.

[Patience47 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I experienced some ill effects for three or four days last year after flu jab, but none this year.

PMR 4 years / currently on 9 mg prednisone.

Edward

[SnazzyD]

Hello, most people are fine but in the years of giving it I've seen some who do seem to suffer though most are fine, even with other medical conditions. It stands to reason, given that vaccInes work by making the body sit up and take notice of the pathogen or toxin injected so it makes antibodies against it. Some of the stuff in the vaccine trigger an inflammatory state to make this process more efficient. I guess some just react more strongly.

[Flateric1]

I had my flu jab a few weeks ago and thankfully had no side effects and no extra PMR issues xx

[Zhenya]

I had my flu jab last Wednesday. Prior to that my PMR pains in upper arms and thighs had been coming back and I was considering upping preds from 4mg. After the flu jab the pains worsened and I took 4.5mg for a few days but with no improvement. Today I have increased to 5mg and my fingers are crossed. The flu jab could have nothing to do with the increase in pain, it could be coincidence, but I am beginning to wish I hadn’t had it!

[Jackoh]

I had my flu jab about a month ago. I really didn't want to have it as I really don't agree with having it done for many reasons, but I felt it would be foolhardy not to have it . Also the year before I developed PMR I had flu very badly and can't imagine coping with that and PMRGCA. My husband also had the flu jab so that he wouldn't put me at risk. So I was very apprehensive on the day I went for the jab- I took 2 paracetamol immediately after I had the jab done ( may have been just psychological on my part) and drank lots of fluids for the rest of the day. I also took it as an easy day. I am very pleased to say that I personally didn't have any reaction but would appreciate it would differ from person to person and from year to year as the content of the jab would be different. Maybe if you felt it would be right you could increase your dose slightly for up to a week and then drop down again and see if that helps you during this period or take some regular doses of paracetamol for a couple of days to see if that helps the symptoms. If the paracetamol helps then it is not an increase of PMR symptoms as paracetamol doesn't touch PMRGCA at all. All the very best Rusty8 let us know how you get on. Jackie

Me - PMR since Nov 2014. GCA since Jan 2016 now on 17 mg pred and Leflounomide.

[SnazzyD in reply to Jackoh]

Taking paracetamol might not be doing you any favours. Just before I left nursing last year we were told to tell the parents of babies we were vaccinating not to give paracetamol as a just in case, only if fever was high like 39C. The only exception was for the new Mennigitis B. This was because research was suggesting that any agent that suppresses any part of the inflammatory response could make the vaccine less effective.

[Jackoh in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you for your comment SnazzyD - obviously didn't know that.

[Marcy47]

I read in the paper that the flu virus has mutated and the current flu jab will have no effect, so I haven't had one. My sister had one in September and was told later that she may need another when they change the vaccine, does anyone know if the vaccine is the new one? My neighbours had their jabs a few weeks ago and have felt bad since.

[SnazzyD in reply to Marcy47]

Hmm, if they need to do another one then by the time enough has been made for the general population the flu season will be over. It takes months to make once the exact strain is identified.

[Hidden in reply to Marcy47]

I had mine within last month and I think that unlike others I have had for years there was expectation it might bleed. It didn't. I have sometimes had localised swelling and heat at the site but usually no illness issues at all in the 18years I have been having it. If I understand correctly they are "made" in/with hens eggs...they ask if sensitivite to them or used to. Maybe makes people sensitive.. ..or did I dream that.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marcy47]

It is being said in the articles I have read that it is likely to be BETTER than last year although there is some doubt if the Australian virus does mutate before it gets here. But it takes months to produce a vaccine so it is highly unlikely there will be a second one.

The flu vaccine usually has anything from 40 to 60% success. So it is likely to halve the chance of you developing flu if you meet it or at least reduce the symptoms. Vaccines don't always provide a 100% cover anyway - but they do prepare your body to meet its enemy and produce antibodies faster so reducing its effect on your body.

What they ARE concerned about is the number of people who are electing NOT to have their flu shot - the more of a population are protected the better the result. And if it is the Aus flu - it will be our age group who are at risk. It behooves us all to do our bit - for the people who can't have a shot for whatever reason. It is a social responsibility IMHO.

[SnazzyD in reply to PMRpro]

But what about the millions who don't have the shot because they are not deemed eligible? I don't see how the herd immunity argument can work with such a large proportion of the population unvaccinated.

I have also wondered if the fact that it isn't 100% but gives some protection means that people could go around being carriers or have such mild disease that doesn't force them to be quarantined so they remain in circulation.

[HeronNS in reply to SnazzyD]

For many years we were told that people at risk, the elderly, people with respiratory problems, and people working with the sick and aged, should get the flu shot. The rest of us were healthy and didn't need it. This has changed in my jurisdiction over the past few years but I have to confess that I was one of those who didn't think it necessary to get one because I was healthy and not in any of the risk categories. Nowadays we are all eligible for a (free) flu shot unless there is a contraindication or you are a tiny infant!

That being said, I'm looking at the challenges I've faced lately dealing with a small flare and the timing of getting the flu shot, and the failure of my initial dose increase to deal with PMR, it does seem like there could be a relationship. If I get a shot next year I'm going to make sure I'm in tip top condition first!

[SnazzyD in reply to HeronNS]

Not in the UK though. You have to pay for it if you don't fall into an eligible category.

[HeronNS in reply to SnazzyD]

That surprises me. I would have assumed you'd be ahead of the pack there!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

There are places where others are encouraged to get it. I think part of it is older people do tend to be together. Yes, I know the UK isn't one of those places...

[piglette in reply to SnazzyD]

I suppose non eligible people also pay towards their prescriptions in UK. My pharmacy charges ten pounds sterling for a flu jab. Probably good value when you think of the alternative. It is like insurance.

[Pebble-Sue55]

I had the flu jab every year for 13 years, every time I did, I would be really ill with a chest infection about a week later. GP always denied any connection. This my 4th year without it, and all I have had each winter is just a heavy cold, no chest infection or achy joints. My husband has been the same. I have enough to cope with with PMR without adding to the mix. GP not pleased with me, but I know my body. It's different for everyone though. I did give it serious consideration. So far So good.😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pebble-Sue55]

It isn't flu season yet!!!!!!

[SnazzyD]

The Public Health England weekly reports are really good way to track the flu season. It tells you about incidence and also what the strains are in those tested. So far it's very quiet

gov.uk/government/statistic...

[Rusty8]

I went back to my usual mg of 9and half and today seem to be a bit easier so was it the mixture of the jab and pills I don’t know and I sudpect I will never know what it was just hope it carries on like this I can put up with so much pain not the pain I was in

Thank you all for your replies

[Grants148]

I stopped having a flu jab four years ago as l was very ill after the one that year,l do not wish to put anyone off as it does not affect everybody in a bad way and some people have no problem at all.I do know quite a lot of people who avoid it though.

[Hidden]

The flu jab is not for everyone, in 2014 I had my first jab ever at the ripe old age of 72 I did not even have it after having breast cancer(twice) , but after the death of my husband in that year I thought having flu and being on my own,it would be the best thing to do. I felt ill after it straight away but what frightened me most was that my nose throat and chest seemed to dry up completely and I was scared to go to sleep at night because I would wake up in a panic not being able to breathe. The chemists, doctors all said the same thing , that it had nothing to do with the flu jab, but I believe that there was a problem with that particular batch in 2014. I have had nasal scans and nothing sinister was found (as nose bleeding had occurred). I have not had a flu jab since and (touch wood) nothing more severe than a cold.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

The problem with the flu vaccine in 2014/15 was that it didn't cover the right viruses - always a problem deciding which to include - rather than there was anything "wrong" with it.