Viral infection to Covid and Flu booster gap.

[JigFettler]

Diag 2015. FCR 2018, 2023 still in full remission (FISH), My Lymphocyte count is 0.8. I am hypogammaglobulinaemic - IgA, G and M.

I have been very fortunate in not having any infection since before diagnosis.

Six weeks ago I became suddenly very unwell over the space of 2 hours. What followed was 5 weeks of a non Covid "viral" infection. (4 neg Lat Flow tests!) CXray was clear, bloods went "squiffy". Infection seemed to settle in upper larynx / vocal cords. And an unforgiving non-stop cough, day and night. Antiobiotics - Amox and Doxycycline. I have not felt that ill in my life before. I was not hospitalised. GP involved. Sepsis monitoring - of course.

In the last week I am recovering and my bloods are normalising. Cough ceased. Such a relief. Just feel washed out.

My question to our Forum:

How long should I leave it till I have my Covid and Flu boosters?

Both due now.

Many thanks

Jig

[Shedman]

Glad to hear you are feeling better. Sounds a lot like my probable RSV suffering, 6 months post BR CLL treatment. Severe cough, with liquid sensation at base of lungs, and mucus plugging of airways.. frankly I was touch and go: never been so ill.

Did the hospital run relevant blood panel (PCR) to identify virus yet?

Your GP should advise ref gap before vaccines, but my feeling is 10 weeks for COVID and 6 weeks for flu .. all assuming your recovery is steady .. and stay safe meantime.

[Walkingtall62]

Oh my Jig, that sounds awful. My feeling this year is for you to wait a while for both jabs. It is the first time this year that I have reacted to the flu jab - headache and nausea etc, so Covid for me is on hold for the moment. Maybe wait for the doxy and amoxi to clear your system. Not qualified, just gut feel. Take care and all the best

[mrsjsmith in reply to Walkingtall62]

Interestingly this is the first year ( that I remember ) having had a reaction to the flu vaccine, no pain apart from slightly achy arm for a day, but a huge bruise that is still livid after a week.

Jig hopefully you will be feeling better soon 🤞

Colette

[AussieNeil Administrator]

Jig, That must have been a worrying time for you. I hope you are soon in as good form as your photography. What a stunning photo!

Neil

[JigFettler Volunteer in reply to AussieNeil]

Green Woodpecker.

[Walkingtall62 in reply to JigFettler]

Forgot to mention the woodpecker. Amazing photo. Thanks

[MisfitK]

I'd wait til you feel like yourself. And then I'd go one at a time, since you'd probably still be recovering, even if you felt normal.

So, maybe flu shot at the end of this month and Covid shot mid-Nov?

[CLLerinOz Administrator Volunteer]

Sorry to hear you've had a rough time, Jig. Whatever you had, it sounds awful. Glad you're on the mend at last.

I can't find a simple answer to your question. There's general advice which says that you should wait until you have fully recovered from your infection and are not experiencing any symptoms before getting any vaccine.

Then, in the case of Covid vaccination, the only additional advice I could find was in relation to getting vaccinated after a Covid infection which I realise isn't specific to your situation but it might offer some additional information for you to think about.

For example, the CDC says that, while it is possible to receive a vaccine if you've recovered and have no symptoms after a Covid infection, most people should consider a 3 month wait to give their body a chance to recover fully and mount as strong a response to the vaccine as possible.

However, the advice goes on to say that those at higher risk of poor outcomes from infection, like those with a weakened immune system, might want to get vaccinated sooner after recovery and not wait the full 3 months.

It seems you'll need to do a bit of a risk/benefit analysis in discussion with your GP and/or CLL doctor, taking infection rates and projections in your area into consideration, too.

cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nc...

As an aside, here in Australia, we can't be vaccinated against Covid if we've had a Covid vaccine or Covid infection in the past six months, even if we're immunocompromised. The sooner there is international consistency on these matters, the better.

Sorry I can't find anything more specific that might give you more certainty.

All the best for your continued recovery. Hope you're soon feeling strong enough to get out photographing beautiful birds again.

CLLerinOz

[JigFettler Volunteer in reply to CLLerinOz]

Yeh! Many thanks. Some interesting replies above too.

Theoretically, I guess, once "recovered", the immune system should be optimally receptive to new challenge, however that is defined and measured.

Given how often this situation must arise I was curious how others have decided to proceed from infection to booster.

I am repeating bloods in a week or so, will include CRP.

I'll take it from there. I've had intense reactions (eg fever) to boosters and of course no way of knowing protection gained.

Jig

[CLLerinOz Administrator Volunteer in reply to JigFettler]

I live in hope that they'll one day develop thresholds that will help guide these decisions but we're not there yet.

CLLerinOz

[PaulaS Volunteer]

Glad you're feeling better at last, Jig. And I love the woodpecker!

I had Covid infection in June, and am now planning to book a booster Covid jab, as it's over 3 months since I recovered.

That's probably not relevant to your situation as your virus wasn't Covid, but I thought I'd mention it.

Paula

[Red49]

Hey Jig sorry to hear you were feeling so unwell, glad you are feeling much better.

[Peggy4]

Ooh nasty. Glad you’re feeling better.

Peggy