PMR and flu injection

[Nolsie]

Hallo All, thank you for all the informative posts. I was diagnosed with PMR in November 2018. Started on 25mg pred, now on 7.5mg, also taking Menacal. Managing ok. My question: is it safe to have my annual flu injection which I was having routinely for the last 8 years or so? I read somewhere that flu injections might be one of the possible causes of PMR?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

There have been small studies on the link, but I don’t think it’s proven to be a significant factor.

Most studies conclude with the advice that people in our age range should have the flu vaccine.

Speak to your medical team if you are worried, but they will probably recommend that you take up the vaccine.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is possible that having had the flu shot may have been the final straw that broke the camel's back and sent the immune system into overdrive. But it could equally well have been you getting the flu itself, or some other form of stress that impacted the immune system and that includes environmental, chemical, infection, emotional or physical stress. If the flu shot triggers PMR then you would expect a far higher incidence than is seen. There are people on the forums who have had and who have never had any flu shots.

I have had PMR since long before I had my first flu shot. I have had my flu shot for the last 7+ years since I was entitled to have it. No difference when I have it.

[Sunshinemaggie9]

I began PMR symptoms right after my 2017 flu shot plus a b12shot around the same time. I refused my 2018 flu shot for that reason.....and any other shots.

[Hidden]

Sometimes things are just coincidental, but a causal relationship is inferred regardless. I started having flu jab at least 15yrs ago. Pmr symptoms DX 4yrs, symptomatic 5yrs. The year I didn't get it first dibs in oct I ended up with severe, bed bound, one month off my feet flu. I think it's a matter of personal choice whether to have a flu jab and out of the thousands and thousands who have it I am sure it's a tiny number who have PMR. Unless I had pernicious anemia or similar I would be more careful about b12 jab even if b12 rarely toxic.

[Andymurph]

My wife and myself both started experiencing symptoms after our 2017 flu jabs and were consequently diagnosed with PMR.

My wife, who is a Hospital sister didn't consider it unconnected and no longer has the jab.

I, unfortunately experienced a pulmonary embolism after an awful bout of flu and have since had further episodes of clots.

I also appear to have developed AF in the last couple of months so I tend to view the flu jab as the lesser of three evils.