RSV vaccine

[herdysheep]

I have just had an invite from my surgery for this vaccine. I am I right in thinking it is a live vaccine? If so, def don't want it. If not, is it worth it? We seem to be very well punctured these days with one thing or another

[herdysheep]

Have just seen linked post. Not 'properly' live vaccine it seems. Still not sure about it

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to herdysheep]

okay - your choice of course... maybe wait until you get some feedback on those having it. Bcol and mine are booked, but as we are both off Pred that probably doesn't help you... 🤦‍♀️

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

see this -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

The RSV vaccine Abrysvo® is a non-live bivalent recombinant vaccine.

[herdysheep in reply to DorsetLady]

Many thanks for link. I usually read most stuff on here, but still catching up after hols!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is the beginning of a vaccine role-out in the UK. There have been a few posts recently.

gov.uk/government/publicati...

RSV is rife in the UK at present and it can make you really unwell - my great neice was in and out of hospital last winter, once she had it, it didn't want to let loose. It can kill, especially in the elderly or immunocompromised patients.

gov.uk/government/publicati...

Given the state of the NHS at present - I think we should welcome anything that helps keep us out of hospital!

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for this. Mine is booked and I was wondering if it was the right thing to do. I’m down to 5mg pred now. Can’t manage to get much lower as quality of life deteriorates!

[Longtimer in reply to Joanbill13]

Booked mine today, at 5 mg too....and yes, QOL certainly deteriorates!....Flu jab 2 weeks after......hope I can cope with that.....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

Flu jab in SEPTEMBER? That's early.

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Both in October....11 th , covid, then 2 weeks later flu.....is that ok?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

Oh right - yes, end of October is fair enough.

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

RSV towards end of September and Flu beginning of November for me.

[herdysheep]

About to ring surgery now!

[herdysheep]

Appt booked!

[Bleakley1]

I am a PMR sufferer of eight years. Had the vaccine a week ago. Neither up or down. Did not even have the sore arm which I normally get with the Covid or Flu injections either. Your choice tho .

[AngelRain]

I caught RSV from our grandson two years ago. I missed both Christmas and New Year, narrowly missed ending upon hospital with low oxygen cats and wasn't completely back to normal until May. I was two years off Pred by then, and otherwise healthy, but it was still a very unpleasant experience.

I would think seriously about having the vaxx if it's being offered.

[Welshmerlin]

I took part in the RSV trial which just finished. I actually had the placebo and was therefore due a free vaccine now. The research doctor told me that the vaccine manufacturer wont allow people with GCA etc. to have it even though it's not a live vaccine. I tried arguing with him, that wasn't right. Having read these posts, I was going to ask my surgery for it however I see you need to be over 75 so still can't get it - well not for free! 😀

[EFCB]

it is NOT a live vaccine if I met the criteria I would defo have it

[herdysheep in reply to EFCB]

I understand that now, thanks to the helpful responses on here. I can see it would be a useful vaccine to have and have booked it. Needed to clear some brain fog!!

[valezio]

I have been invited to have this vaccine,had not heard of RSV before but have been very unwell since May 2024 with various symptoms. GP had no answers for me and no treatment offered, I still have the cold etc to this day. I am not sure if I should have the vaccine while I still have the cold. I hope to find out today. I am 79. Have never felt so ill.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to valezio]

this is what the guidelines state -

Those who should not have the RSV vaccine

Almost everybody can have the vaccine, but tell the doctor or nurse if you have ever had a serious allergy to a vaccine, or any of the ingredients.

You can read the patient information leaflet for the RSV vaccine called Abrysvo.

If you have a minor illness such as a cold you can receive the vaccine, but if you are very unwell or have a fever, the doctor or nurse may advise you to wait until you are better.

Hope you can find out what your issues are.

[Gimme]

I hadn't heard of this vaccine, so I had to look it up. One of the nurses at the GP practice told me that I should check whether eligible for the pneumonia vaccine. Is this the same as the pneumonia vaccine or something else? I am assuming something else, since one is a virus and one a bacterial infection.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Gimme]

They are different vaccines-see this re pneumonia-

nhs.uk/vaccinations/pneumoc...

[Zak60]

I took part in the GSK trial for their version of this vaccine before I was diagnosed with PMR. Although I was on the placebo as the trial has finished they have offered me the real vaccine which I have accepted. I will continue on the trial for another year. The senior clinicians have checked for adverse reactions for people with PMR - all good.Ironically, my GP and the doctor leading the trail agree with my self-diagnosis that it was the COVID vac that triggered my PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zak60]

But the Covid jab is not unique in triggering PMR. The flu and old shingles vaccine also had it on their records - but then, flu and shingles themselves can trigger the onset of PMR. As can a lot of other things.

[Zak61 in reply to PMRpro]

Understood. Thank you. I understand that no vaccination is risk free. I'm also prepared to be a "guinea-pig"...RSV nearly killed my friend's daughter as an infant. Although these vaccines are only approved for adults, it's a step towards protecting neo-nats: happy to do my little bit to help...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zak61]

Neonates should be protected by their mother being vaccinated during pregnancy - the protection carries over.

ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/07/1...

There is also a vaccine for children - has been for over a year in the USA.

health.harvard.edu/blog/the...

[Zak61 in reply to PMRpro]

Excellent! Thank you.

[AtopicGuy]

For those who are interested, this is a photo of a single RSV particle at the very moment it bursts out of the infected cell that was hijacked to breed more of its kind. The fluffy-looking bristles on the outside are the protein keys that it will use to break into another cell. The Pfizer vaccine being rolled out in the UK uses a chunk of that 'fuzz' to alert the immune system to watch out for invaders bearing this tag. The aim is for us to have antibodies ready to fight off RSV, as if we had already survived a previous infection. As you can see, well over 99% of the virus is not used in the vaccine, so it is not alive and cannot cause an infection.

About 360 of these virus particles would fit across the width of a human hair.

A single RSV particle bursts out from the cell that was hijacked to make thousands more.

[Jigsawlass]

My son was hospitalised on Boxing Day many years ago with RSV , aged 10 weeks . That was an interesting Christmas! It can be v nasty, virtually the whole ward was full of babies and toddlers with RSV. I hope it will be rolled out for babies before too long

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jigsawlass]

Now he would be protected by you having the jab during pregnancy.

[Jigsawlass in reply to PMRpro]

Indeed, if only it had been available 30 years ago !

[Grammy80]

I just discussed this with my primary care physician two days ago (States). Since I was tapering off pred she had advised I have it in late August. Now my dose has increased again. She advised it was not live, as others have said, but suggested I wait until mid-late September. I can also have the flu jab and my 6th Covid, Moderna or Pfizer are not live. I'll be double checking the timing and spreading them over a few weeks, although I've never had a reaction.💞

[JanetGarrettN in reply to Grammy80]

I took all three last fall here in Virginia. No problems with the covid or flu, but the RSV arm was incredibly painful for some time. But, all worthwhile.

[AyJayBass]

I booked myself in on line for the RSV vaccination and that evening the nurse who was leading the vaccination clinic rang and told me that I was not eligible as I am 81. It seems you have to be 75 to 79 to qualify for it in UK.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to AyJayBass]

Yes that’s correct -as mentioned here in title -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

[AyJayBass in reply to DorsetLady]

And no exceptions for the immunocmpromised or those with lung disease!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to AyJayBass]

No, apparently not!

[Hopingsail]

Interesting thread - as I’ve been invited to have jabs for Covid, flu, and RSV! As PMR began a few days after 1st covid jab (Pfizer) I’m really rather nervous about it tbh. I’m on Pred 2mg about to reduce to 1.5 so don’t want to mess that up either… Probably best to have them (as is mentioned on the forum) but space them out as far as possible. Any thoughts as to which order might be preferable?