Flu shots?

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Chrismom

Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
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Does everyone here on meds get a flu shot every year. If you do get one do you get the live virus or the non live virus. Also, does everyone in your family have to get the flu shot too??
 
Before becoming ill, I always got them.. had kids to raise, couldn't risk getting ill with no one to step in and help with my children. Then I got ill, and I haven't had a flu shot since.. Wish I had.. I'm into my 4th week of this bug now.. it got worse today/last nite... and my health (Crohns) has suffered again as a result. I believe one has to be extremely careful considering this if you are taking immuno suppressors.. It is worth asking your doc for sure, and seeing if the killed virus vaccine is a better option.
 
I still have not found any concrete evidence that Flu shots prevent the Flu. Until I am convinced it does, based on actual studies, I will not even consider one.

I had the Flu this year and it knocked me on my butt, but I went 14 years prior without having it.

Dan
 
I'm sure that I read somewhere you can not take a live vaccine with Humira.
I wouldn't take a live vaccine anyways, especially if the other option was available.
I still think I'm going to skip mine this year after reading the other thread about it.
 
if you're immunosuppressed in ANY WAY, and most of us are, live vaccines should be avoided.

i think I'm getting a flu shot, but i don't know when!
 
The flu shot is not live. There are a few things to consider though:

1. You may have contracted influenza just before you would have gained immunity. Flu shots usually aren't given until about the same time people start getting sick. Strange logic but whatever.

Flu season is a result of the inability of the influenza virus to survive warm weather. The virus, when outside of the body, has a protective coating that melts at about 75 degrees Fahrenheit, I believe it is. If that coating melts the virus will very likely die before reaching another host. When the temperature drops below 75 degrees that protective coating allows the influenza virus to survive in an outside (and inside depending on what temperature a room is kept at) environment for very long periods of time which means easy transmission. You would think that the drive would be to have everyone vaccinated before the local temperatures dropped below that point but it's not. Instead it usually doesn't even begin until right after temperatures drop to that level leading to the flu and flu shot coincidence.

2. You may be having a reaction to the ingredients but you are not infected with a virus. To develop an immunity your body needs to have an immune reaction. The virus in the shot is dead. It can not reproduce. But your body is going to attack what's there while it's in your system. Having an immune reaction for a day while you wait for the, well, allergen basically, to get out of your system isn't anything like suffering through full fledged influenza for up to a month.

3. The influenza vaccine only covers 3 strains that experts guess will be the most common. Influenza is renown for it's extremely fast mutations which leaves many, many strains scattered about the world. If you run into a strain other than those 3 most common you will still get sick.

4. While there is no risk of getting influenza from the shot, even on immuno-suppressants, your immune system may not be strong enough to identify, react to, and develop an immunity from the vaccine. In other words, it might not work. There are different probabilities depending on in what way and how strongly suppressed your immune system is. Ask your doctor if they think it's worth the trouble if you want, but if it's a free shot there's not really a disadvantage.

5. The nasal spray is a live vaccine. Do not take it. It exists only because some people have allergic reactions to the preservatives in some vaccines such as the flu shot. It's sometimes pushed as being a way to avoid needles but frankly a flu shot is barely painful if at all and the nasal spray isn't worth the risks unless you truly can't have the shot.
 
I am very wary of vaccinations and swore not to take ones again!!! My Crohn's appeared just a month after taking several vaccinations when I started my new job since it required lots of travel to 3rd world counties. Then 2 years later I got vaccinated for yellow for a trip to Africa, and although the doctors said it's Ok, I flared and stayed one year having fevers and chills...........

I think for Flu,the best is to take vitamines, good nutrition and good sleep. But that'smy opinion....
 
im getting mine.. meand my mumg et them at the same time. i seem to get whatever is going around so i need all the protection i can get
x
 
I haven't decided if I am going to get one, they say I should due to my thalassemia and asthma.
 
I got mine. Free from my employer. I had a mild fever and felt a bit tired that night but otherwise I'm fine.
 
I got mine at work Wednesday. Figured what the hell, the last thing I need is more sick days.
 
Being in the army, I am required to get vaccinated. Last year, the army started using the nasal spray. I did that last year and it was much better than getting an injection. However, this year I am on immo-suppressant so I don't think the nasal spray is a good option with the live virus. My unit is getting mass vaccinated on Tuesday. I limit the number of people that know about my Crohns and my treatment because technically Crohns makes a person ineligible for military service. So to I will be sneaking off on Monday to get the shot, so I can avoid the whole mass vaccination scene of me refusing to take the nasal spray.
 
Yeah, GI Joe. My Humira came with a "do not get a live vaccine on this medication" warning, and it's an immunosuppressor.
Get your injection shot for sure, not the live spray.
 
i decided not to get one, atleast not yet, ill be super careful washing my hands not touching my eyes or mouth and drinking lots of green tea and herbal teas instead.
 
I know the flu is a dead one, my mom told me all about it. My concern is if my immune system is f'd up in the first place, plus I've got 2 immunosuppressants going into me, and all the mystery still surrounds how Crohns truly works, then that's too much "if" for something that will be triggering my immune system to recognize the "blue print" of the virus's "corpse", so to say. I have gone most years without it, and been fine, and the 2 I've had Crohns for had the one with the vaccine the worst by far, and the one without it, the most bearable. Even with three immunosuppressants back in the spring, I didn't get sick, no flu, no cold, I just don't really get sick, I've always been like that, until Crohns (if that is a "sickness") that is....
 
Had mine today.. but i'm not on immuno suppressors, and haven't been on pred for well over a year.. But there are risks, including the preservative they use to keep the vaccine from spoiling. and, if you are allergic to eggs, don't get the shot. These are standard precautions they advise before giving out the shot. I just came off a 4.5/5 week bug, would like to avoid that again.
 
well i think if one is allergic to eggs they can get the nasal influenza spray although maybe thats also cultured in an egg, not sure but dont think so
 
I got mine a week and a half ago (required by the hospital that I work at *which is also the one I spent 40 days as an inpatient at*) and no ill effects except my arm was sore for awhile...
 
I would think any pertinent ill effects would take closer to a month or so, because it is immune related, those processes can take time. Colt or SoupDragon may know more on that front.
 
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I'm not really sure what ill effects you're getting at. The only risk on immuno-suppressants when taking an inactive vaccine is that the vaccine will do nothing at all because your immune system was not strong enough to take notice of the vaccine and form an antibody. An allergic reaction would be pretty much immediate. You probably wouldn't make it out of the building before hitting the floor. Flu vaccinators usually have epinephrine on hand for that occurrence too.

The immune response to the vaccine (fever/aches) should begin soon after and be all gone within 2 days of the injection.

As for the live nasal spray it was developed specifically for people who are allergic to eggs or for other reasons can't get the shot. It is no better than or worse than the shot in pretty much every way. The risk of catching the disease is low but compared to no risk at all it's a deal breaker unless you have an allergy or for some reason shouldn't receive injections.

If you've developed an influenza infection from the nasal spray it should come on just like the normal flu. Symptoms within a week.
 
Colt said:
The only risk on immuno-suppressants when taking an inactive vaccine is that the vaccine will do nothing at all because your immune system was not strong enough to take notice of the vaccine and form an antibody.
Click to expand...

That's how I understood it. Still worth a try though, real flu is very unpleasant and potentially dangerous.
 
Which is why I stated "any pertinent....", but like I said, you'd know more, vaccines aren't an area of mine. I'll take my chances not getting the shot, I never really get sick, even when immunosuppressed. I'll also suffer the consequences should it go the other way, and I get the first flu infection I'd have acquired in like 16 years. I would really like to know more about how the body manifests this recognition via antibodies though, as that seems like stimulation of the immune system in some fashion (and I'm leary on ANYTHING to do with that, looking at my long history of flu aversion without vaccines and being fine, mind you). I honestly don't know, and have sent an email for advice to my GI for his opinion on my particular case.
 
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Pen said:
Dont want to risk getting sick and then can take my meds cause they wont stay down, that is a worse senario for me. Everyone has their own opinion and if you choose NOT to, I hope you stay well regardless!
Click to expand...

Agreed! I got the flu not that long ago and had to be taken to the
hospital it was so bad (couldn't keep down my meds)

So I made sure to get a shot this time.
 

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