Flu jab

[Robert09]

Your opinion please, people,

I have GCA, is there any reason not to have Flu jab while on pred - methotrexate, which I will be coming off, after all the information on HU, seeing Rheumatologist soon.

Thank you in anticipation

Pam

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi ,

This was my reply to similar question couple of days ago -

I had flu jab all the way through my Pred journey - sometimes on higher doses that you quote. No problems whatsoever - for me anyway.

This year apparently the jab is slightly different in that it may well affect the auto immune system more than previous versions, and is known as an adjuvanted trivalent vaccine - see nhs site -

nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinati...

It is recommended for patients on long term steroid medication.

Best to take advice from your GP if you are still concerned.

[Robert09 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you

[piglette]

One thing the current flu jabs do not cover all the potential flu bugs that may come this year.

[Robert09 in reply to piglette]

Thank you I’m seeing GP tomorrow so will also ask her.

[piglette in reply to Robert09]

There is one for the over 65s which has the three Australian varieties, H2N2 “Aussie” flu, H1N1 “swine” flu and a different “Brisbane” strain of flu B and not the Japanese one, B-Yamagata strain, while under 65s are being given the one with the Japanese variety in it. Perhaps your doctor can explain more to you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There is every reason - because while the medication WILL probably impair your immune response to the vaccine, at least it has had a bit of practice. Being faced with the live virus doesn't give it much time to get its act together. And while the vaccine doesn't cover all the potential viruses, it does cover about half most years.

[tangocharlie]

I have no evidence for this, but have always wondered if there is a link, my PMR symptoms started after my first flu jab, the next year it also made me feel ill and dizzy for weeks and I haven't bothered since. Not at all saying you shouldn't go for it, just my personal decision and wondering if anyone else had a similar experience?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

In your case it may have been the flu jab that was the final straw for your immune system - but it could as well have been the flu itself or a cold - or anything else.

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

Indeed it could. I'd never had a bad cold or flu before so that could have been the tipping point. It's when whatever it was that I had went on for about 4-5 weeks that I started going to the doctor and asking what is going on here? Took another 7 months of feeling lousy til I got the diagnosis of PMR. By then I'd thrown away a perfectly good bed and pillows and bought new ones, blaming it for my stiff neck, shoulders, hips and legs and inability to get out of bed in the morning! I kept being told it was because I wasn't doing enough exercise, yet exercise was so painful. I protested that I used to be a regular walker and tennis player up til then but just got told by various medical experts that you quickly lose strength and fitness if you stop exercising. I guess it was because I was only 51 nobody suspected PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

Yes - been there too! "Your bloods are fine - there can't be anything wrong. It must be your age..." Also 51 - and I was at the gym every day.

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

I really miss walking, I try to do about 30 mins a day but it's more of a potter round the park and I would love to be able to do more. One summer I dosed up on Pred, went back up from 5 to 7.5 or 10 for a few weeks and did some longer walks in Austria, but it took weeks to recover afterwards. I wonder if it actually set me back. The time will come again, hopefully, but I can't swim very well any more now without shoulders, I can't do crawl or breast stroke so I just lie on my back and do a kind of frog kick!

[Patience47]

Flu and pneumonia shots about 4 hours ago. Flu shot/jab is supposed to cover 4 different virus strains. Pharmacist said to get follow-up pneumonia shot in a year. Hopefully, it will help and I won't start to feel bad from the shots. Haven't had the flu since 1989, which is when I first started getting flu jabs. Knock on wood.

Self diagnosed 2013

Reumy diagnosed 2014

[Patience47]

Robert, I've never had a problem with flu jabs since PMR / pred. ( 4 yrs.)

[Marijo1951]

I've had mine every year for the last 11 years. My GP made a point of advising me to get it this year because of my impaired immune system.

[Robert09 in reply to Marijo1951]

I suppose it sounds logical, thanks for that.

[stellafmdm]

Because I am coeliac it was suddenly decided, about two years ago, by I think, Coeliac UK that all coeliacs should have every possible vaccination and a lot were for different strains of Meningitis. I was duly summoned and multiple jabs were administered. No problems with the pred or any of the jabs but I was advised not to have live vaccines!

[Purplecrow]

Hello, I was diagnosed PMR in 2013, have taken flu vaccine every year, and a pneumonia shot as well.

The vaccine for flu does not use live virus, and cannot cause the flu. Occasionally, I have had a few days of feeling droopy, presume while my body rallies the antis against the flu.

If you have ever had influenza, you know how seriously ill you can get. Mine morphed into pneumonia, and it was terrifying. I am a believer in the vaccine.