Hi All, my pharmacist has recommended I have a flu jab this winter (he is starting to do them next week). He's offering it because I'm 65 and eligible for it free on the NHS. I don't have any respiratory or heart problems but it does take me a long time to recover from viruses that most people shrug off, as I have vestibular damage, which affects my balance. I've never had a flu jab before for that reason.
I've read that live vaccines cause problems for people with compromised immune systems. But also that people with compromised immune systems should have flu jabs. Really confused.
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Magster54
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I am wondering whether to have the vaccine this year too, I know it is not a live vaccine and as such it is considered safe for PMR/GCA. However I think last year they added something to boost the immune system for vaccines for over 65’s. Although I didn’t have flu last winter, I was diagnosed with PMR in spring. Had been feeling very low in energy and had aching shoulders for some time before it morphed into PMR. There is a lingering question mark in my mind as to whether it boosted my immune system rather too much.
I kind of wonder about the adjuvants also. I understand that's what makes the new Shingrix vaccine so nasty - can make you feel wretched for a day or two, at least my husband found it so, worse for the second shot than the first, too. (Shingrix is the killed version of shingles vaccine.)
I have flu jab every year at work, I like you Rache wondered if last years one brought my pmr on fully. Only yesterday I was thinking should I have it this year so my question is answered now thank you everyone. I certainly don’t want the flu!
I also was in two minds about mentioning my reservations. Overall vaccines are very necessary especially for those at risk of complications. I was thinking of asking for the under 65 version without adjuvants this year. Don't know if that is possible - maybe could pay for it privately?
Hi Susi, you've had a very rough time. I hope you're feeling better over all now. I agree with you on all points. Wouldn't take it on myself to advise anyone else. There may be something in our cases, maybe not. I will probably try the under 65 one if at all possible.
I must say that I am biased and do not take flu shots for a concern what is actually in the vaccine. Since mid 80's, after the drug companies got immunity from damage caused by vaccines, the number of vaccines multiplied like virus ( pun intended). Adjuvants have a purpose to multiply immune system reaction to injected virus. The un-intended consequence is that adjuvants multiply reaction to ANY virus that is in our system. So if you have any dormant virus, or picked up virus in last few days before vaccine and are still not aware of it, the reaction to that virus will be amplified ( I think I read 100 times). This and reaction to vaccine is why people get sick after.
In addition to adjuvants vaccines also contain proteins that are non-human in origin and our immune system also reacts to those.
Third reason I choose not to take flu vaccine is that it is the best guess what strain of flu virus will be dominant next season, usually based on prevalent virus from southern hemisphere from last flu season. There are 150+ variants of flu virus and vaccine has 3-or 4 of those as best guess. Chances are usually near 50% or less that it will be effective.
We all pick our poison... Some professions are more exposed to infections and some situation ( like caring for elderly) may require flu shot. I think that healthy life style, good hygiene and common sense measures should be sufficient protection IMO.
I had flu jabs for quite a few years after l had reached 65, and apart from a headache l was OK. Then l had the one that l believe made me very ill, resulting in pneumonia and Kidney failure. I really did not think l would survive. I was brave enough to have one the following year,but started to feel ill again a couple of weeks later and was given antibiotics straight away which stopped me getting worse .I have not had a flujab for the last three years ,since l was diagnosed with PMR,l am always worried about actually catching flu,but my GP does not even mention the jab to me now,even though l suffer from asthma sometimes. I did notice that last winter a lot of people had a very prolonged cough which could result in a chest infection,that was soon after their flu jabs,l managed not to catch any colds at all,but l always worry when winter starts that l may pick up something . Doctors always say that the vaccine does not make you ill,but it could be that if a cold or virus is in your system,a flu jab could cause problems by making the cold or virus symptoms far worse . I am not against flu vaccinations as a lot of people do not have any problem with
Sorry l must have pressed post by mistake on my previous post,l meant to say that it is good there is a vaccine ,and the more people who are vaccinated will hopefully prevent severe outbreaks ,so long as they do not have any problems afterwards.
It is vulnerable people, perhaps people like you, who cannot be vaccinated who are protected when enough members of the general population are immunized. For example someone was getting on my case because I've refused to have any shingles vaccination. I have no evidence that I ever had chicken pox and haven't been tested for immunity, so getting a shingles vaccine seems like a pretty stupid thing for me to do. In this case I believe I am someone who benefits from herd immunity of those around me.
Because I do not seem vulnerable to sicknesses like the flu I feel I personally don't need a flu vaccination but in recent years I've become aware that I have a responsibility to be part of the immunized herd to help protect others.
I've just looked at info about the flu vaccine available in Nova Scotia last winter (they don't have the upcoming season listed yet) and it was the high dose vaccine for people in long term care facilities only (over 65s) which did not contain thimerosal. This is the mercury based preservative which is the reason I don't like being vaccinated. I think if you get a vaccine from a single dose vial it doesn't contain this chemical. It's used in the large batch containers. However none of the available vaccines last year contained an adjuvant.
That's why I was interested to learn the version used here has no adjuvant, although it does have mercury and aluminum, along with egg protein and a bunch of other ingredients!
Well, now that I know a bit more I can tell you the info on our (Nova Scotia) release concerning last year's vaccines is misleading. It claims no adjuvants, but I believe that aluminum salts are adjuvants. So what's with that?
Now, recently I looked at this same link, at east I think it was the same, it is for the year 2018-19, and I definitely read mercury and aluminum. Today there is no sign of either additive in the list. I am truly puzzled. However it does look like there are no metals in our vaccine. neither as preservative nor as adjuvant. I do not trust my eyes any more!
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