Nasal flu vaccine transmission

[Grizzly-bear]

For anyone who has children, or close contact, and is on immunosuppressants, have you been around children who have had the live flu vaccine and been ok? They gave to my sister's son at school today (against her consent as she's on methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, so she wanted him to have the other vax), and I'm not sure whether I am OK to visit them tomorrow or how careful she needs to be. I'm on rituximab and prednisolone atm (though will come off pred soon).

[RichardGPA65yrs]

Hi, Grizzly-bear I read a leaflet on line about the Astrazeneca Fluenz Tetra nasal spray vaccine snd it is a live virus but attenuated (weakened) so I suppose it may not be actually infectious.

However, is also says should not be given to a child “if you are in close contact with someone with a severely weakened immune system (for example, a bone marrow transplant patient needing isolation).“ So that could apply to you but on Rituximab but maybe not your sister.

I suppose its always a risk being near a school child - they have so many viruses this time of year.

All the best

Richard

[Grizzly-bear in reply to RichardGPA65yrs]

Thanks for your response. I thought my sister on methotrexate might be less problematic than me on rituximab , too

[Griff53]

Are you sure the flu vaccine is live.

[Grizzly-bear in reply to Griff53]

Yeah it’s the nasal vaccine they give children. The advice is to not get if you live with an immune suppressed person but they ignored my sister. It’s not meant to be transmissible to anyone with a functioning immune system but I think the risk of spread of live nasa flu vaccines is theoretically

[alex_m]

I don’t really know I’ve been told I’ll be low dose of pred for the rest of my life to keep my vasculitis at bay ,my immune system has to be as weak as possible.

[Ellamaye]

Have you caught any illness after retuximab? I've been scared to death but all good for 2 months not even a cold from close people

[Grizzly-bear in reply to Ellamaye]

I haven’t but I’ve still been wearing my mask when I’m in busy places. I’ve been on rituximab for 2 years now.

[JaneLE Administrator]

My daughter has had it for the last few years. Each time she stays away from me for a couple of days so no cuddles. But we have always been fine.

Just warn the child to keep a little distance.

I was on rituximab and 10mg Steroids.

Good luck

Jane

[Grizzly-bear in reply to JaneLE]

Thanks for your response, that’s reassuring to hear