Hope all are doing well. Making slow progress here, but all going in the right direction so I am told. Feel better than the beginning of the year for sure! Got next rituximab in August 🤞
I have not seen my great niece for quite some time and had hoped to visit her as she is growing fast. I am told she has been vaccinated against chicken pox starting in March. As it is a live vaccine I was unsure if I should visit. Pharmacist told parents that niece should stay away from those with weakened immune systems for 3 months. I have had chicken pox so not sure if this still applies. Anyone have any advice?
Rgds,
Lollypocket.
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lollypocket
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If you have had CP then the virus is likely to stay dormant in your body and may be re-activated and appears as shingles in older generation. Obviously if your immune system is comprised then you are more at risk.
If that's pharmacist's advice, then unless you can find anything to the contrary it might be sensible to follow it. Better safe than sorry...
It is rare for vaccinated people to spread varicella vaccine virus, especially if they do not have rash. Worldwide, since the varicella vaccine programs started, only 11 healthy vaccinated people (6 with varicella-like rash and 5 with herpes zoster postvaccination) have been documented as spreading vaccine virus to others. All of these vaccinated people had rash after vaccination. As a result, 13 people, including household members and people in long-term care facilities, got infected with vaccine virus varicella. One additional case had a mechanism other than direct transmission from a vaccine recipient, possibly exposure to vaccine aerosol during preparation of the vaccine for administration.
There has not been any documented transmission of varicella from vaccinated healthcare personnel."
The Australian handbook says
"Varicella vaccine is recommended for household contacts of people who are immunocompromised.
Transmission of the varicella vaccine virus strain is extremely rare and is likely to cause only mild disease in the person who is immunocompromised (see Adverse events). This compares with the relatively high risk of severe varicella disease from exposure to wild-type varicella-zoster virus in people who are immunocompromised.10,11
If vaccinated people develop a rash, they should cover the rash and avoid contact with people who are immunocompromised for the duration of the rash.
Zoster immunoglobulin does not need to be given to an immunocompromised contact of a vaccinated person with a rash. This is because the disease associated with this type of transmission (should it occur) is expected to be mild. "
Since the vaccine is recommended for household members of immunocompromised person - I really can't imagine they must leave the house for 3 months!!!
It is an attentuated vaccine and you must be nearly 3 months past anyway. Has she had a rash at any point? If she had one due to the vaccine it will have been in the first month - and she is definitely well past that.
Thanks for the response 😊 I do not believe she has had a rash. I get that it is wise to be cautious, but it did seem a little excessive. I am always a bit too lax with this stuff and have been unusually careful this time.
Might be worth getting the Shingrix shingles vaccine to be safe. I have Rituximab as well every 6 months and my Rheumatologist advised to have the Shingrix vaccine 6 weeks before the Rituximab infusion. A second Shingrix vaccine will be required after 6 months, again 6 weeks before the next Rituximab infusion.
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