Advice on Shingles and Crohn's

[kitmus]

I am getting contradictory info from my pharmacist and doctor regarding getting the Shingles vaccination. I will be 75 years old this year. Went in to pharmacy to get a Shingles vaccination and was told that I should not since I have an auto-immune disease, Crohn's. On the other hand, my doctor yesterday said I should get the shot....Crohn's is not the issue....immune supression drugs are and I don't take any meds for Crohn's. Did have surgery at Mayo 2 years ago..fistulas. Thanks for clarifying this if you can. :ylol2:

 

[ronroush7]

I don't understand the issue if you don't take any drugs.

 

[kitmus]

My pharmacist told me I shouldn't get one "because you have Crohn's which is an auto-immune disease". My doc, on the other hand said that I can get the shingles shot, "because I am not taking any immune suppression or any other drugs for Crohn's". You obviously agree with the doc, right?

 

[ronroush7]

Yes.

 

[Lisa]

I found this information on the CDC (Center for Disease Control) website -

Who Should Not Get Shingles Vaccine?

Some people should not get shingles vaccine:
•A person who has ever had a life-threatening or severe allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of shingles vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
•A person who has a weakened immune system because of: ◦HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system,
◦treatment with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids,
◦cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy, or
◦cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, such as leukemia or lymphoma.

•Women who are or might be pregnant. Women should not become pregnant until at least 4 weeks after getting shingles vaccine.

Someone with a minor acute illness, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. But anyone with a moderate or severe acute illness should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101.3°F or higher.

This information was taken directly from the Shingles Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) dated 10/06/2009.

It doesn't say anything about auto-immune diseases.....

 

[DustyKat]

The shingles vaccine is live BUT that doesn’t necessarily preclude you from receiving the vaccination even if you were on immunosuppressant medication. I know this flies in the face of what is generally known about live vaccines and immunosuppressants but the shingles vaccine doesn’t appear to fit the run of the mill mould.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/news/20120705/shingles-vaccine-may-be-ok-for-autoimmune-patients

All this is merely semantics though because you are on no immunosuppressant medication therefore the vaccine poses no increased risk to you.

 

[kitmus]

Thank you so much. After researching, checking with my doctor again and receiving good into on the Forum, I also conclude that I can get the shingles vaccine. Now, just have to pay for it up front and get reimbursed.

 

[crohnsinct]

At the recent Advances in IBD conference there was a discussion about
the fact that the Shingles and Chicken Pox vaccines although live may still be safe for those on immune suppressing drugs.