Flu jab if you are in remission?: I have looked... - PMRGCAuk

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Flu jab if you are in remission?

Mrs-CJ profile image
17 Replies

I have looked over the various flu jab posts and see that the advice is to definitely get it!

Is your advice any different for someone who is in remission?

I have been off prednisone (for PMR) about 18 months. I have never had a flu jab because I luckily do not get the flu. I am very concerned that it might trigger a PMR relapse.

The type they are offering is the one without the adjuvant.

Thank you!

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Mrs-CJ
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17 Replies
SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

I had mine on Friday, no ill effects at all, not even the heavy arm or feeling off colour. I was treated as a priority in my surgery ( compromised immunity PMR/GCA. I had a cold recently that felt much worse than usual, people are reporting this, something to do with being out and about far less.

My PMR is in remission my GCA is 6 months old. I understand your concerns but on balance I would opt for it.

Constance13 profile image
Constance13

I'm not in remission (unfortunately) but I had the jab last Wednesday. Was OK for about an hour but collapsed in the hall as I returned home (coincidence)? For some reason I was "strangely ill" for 2/3 days after that.

I've had the jab every year since PMR started - never been troubled before.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply toConstance13

As a matter of interest, did you get the standard flu shot or stronger one with adjuvant, which stimulates the immune system to make a greater response? I suspect those of us with auto-immune conditions should probably avoid adjuvanted vaccines as our immune systems are pretty feisty anyway, even on low dose pred.

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply toHeronNS

I never asked!😂

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply toConstance13

I think it depends where you live because the high dose one seems standard for certain groups in many places. It simply isn't here. In fact people are complaining because they want it and because it isn't covered by the provincial health plan they have to pay maybe as much as $100 for it. I might have been one of them before I learned more as a by-product of covid-19 information.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply toConstance13

On the other hand you'll have greater immunity for the price of a couple of days of feeling not so great. :)

paulst955 profile image
paulst955

I had my Flu jab two weeks ago no side affects at all. Get the jab flu is a serious illness and kills thousands every year. I cannot understand why people do not have the jab.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Hi,

I’ve had flu jab for many years - pre, during and post GCA...this year’s 3 weeks ago - no issues, ever.

As has been said in the posts previously - this year more important than ever, for obvious reasons.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

The flu jab is important this year for extra reasons. The combination of flu and Covid is likely to make the situation in the hospitals even more critical and reducing the number of flu cases or making them less severe is essential. The hospitals are already struggling to cope. We are all aging - and the older you are, the more even common or garden flu will impact your body.

scottygirl73 profile image
scottygirl73

Had flu jag 2 weeks ago no side effects.Definitely you should get it.xx

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

Yes, get it, but see Constance13's reply and my reply to her. Here there's no issue because the high dose shot is only available to those in long term care facilities. Only time I ever reacted to a flu shot was the very first time I got one when I think the needle went into a vein. I came over all faint and developed a huge bruise, Started getting shot annually a couple of years ago (that first one was the year of h1n1) and no problems.

Marymon profile image
Marymon

I had the jab last Wednesday, no side effects on 3mg. When you say you don’t get ‘flu, I wasn’t aware that anyone was naturally immune, I have never had ‘flu but think that has just been luck. Do think about it, this could be the year you do get it.

I had my jab yesterday. I’m 63 but ‘allowed’ one now as I’m down as a carer. I’m not a carer but on pred and keep telling them. The gp who did the jab said she didn’t know if being on pred qualified for a jab at this stage. I assured her it did as I’d checked on the nhs site. But she did also say she didn’t know if they would ever get the vaccine to do everyone over 50 so my husband may not get it. Chaos.

Mrs-CJ profile image
Mrs-CJ

Thank you all for your positive responses.....they have helped me feel more optimistic about getting a flu jab. This forum is awesome!!

MsDirecto profile image
MsDirecto

Got my flu shot 6 days ago. . I was given it in my rheumy's office, right after Actemra

infusion. I got my first one in 1995- just a month before my husband ghad his heart transplant. Got it every year after that- to protect him. I now get the high dose version - It's pretty standard here for people over 65, (Iam 77). Have been feeling a bit low energy for a couple of weeks, but think it's a combination of new taper and really hot weather- so less walking outsideI. I didnt have any reaction to the shot. Today I had injection of Lucentis in my eye for macular degeneration. The day before my actemra, I had drilling for a root canal. Think I have had my year's quota of injections!

Mrs-CJ profile image
Mrs-CJ

Although this question I started is 6 months old, I wanted to add a final comment about my experience.

I had my flu shot on October 16, 2020. I felt totally ok for 2 weeks.

But then the third week I started getting some aches that were exactly like the ones I had when my PMR started. First a stiff neck, then neck and one shoulder, then neck and both shoulders....plus bad fatigue. I experimented with Tylenol and Advil and a lot of heat (the bag you heat in the microwave), rested a lot...... trying to find something that would reduce the inflammation. I was pretty distressed that the flu shot had triggered PMR. The aches lasted at least a week and then the following week the aches slowly decreased but the fatigue remained. The fifth week after the flu shot I started to feel ok.

I don’t think I will get a flu shot in the future. My current thinking is that I’m better with seeing how I am with the flu than with having to go through many years with PMR/prednisone (I was on prednisone for 6 1/4 years).

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toMrs-CJ

If the flu shot did it - what might flu itself do? That has to be considered too.

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