Flu Shot and Season

Anyone on treatment vic or inciv getting flu shots? Is it OK?

[pooh55811]

I received my flu shot 3 days before I started triple med treatment (Pegasys, Ribavirin, Incivek) (flu shot Friday and started treatment the following Monday). It was given by my treating doctor's office so it was cleared by them.
In retrospect, I would probably try to get it at least a week prior to starting treatment if possible.

However, the triple med treatment can put us at great risk for infections and virus attacks and so I believe a flu shot is recommended because if we get the (real) flu we can die from it.

That said, I would clear it with my doctor first just to be sure. Every person is different and has different risks and doctors have differing opinions too.

[HectorSF]

Additional note:

All cirrhotics should have the flu shot (they are immunocompromised and have an increased risk of infection, with a worse outcome) along with having been vaccinated for other hepatitis viruses HAV, HBV, TB, pneumonia, etc.

Cheers!
Hector

[pooh55811]

Great points, Hector. I agree with you about getting all of the vaccinations.

I actually received a pneumonia vac., a Herpes Zoster (shingles) vac., and a tetanus-diptheria vac. last March before I was ever diagnosed with Hep. C. I recieved a Hep. A vac. in August (need the last part of it in Feb.). I had been vaccinated  for Hep. B many years ago (1990s) and it is still effective.

Any one of those diseases (Hep. A, Hep. B, pneumonia, shingles, true
flu) could be deadly for any of us who are on the triple meds or are immuno compromised in any way.

[redsurfer]

oh good question. i was at the pharmacy yesterday and they asked me if i wanted a flu shot ...i was like "um...i dont know" so im going to all my dr today and ask...ill let you know what they say... im on week 15 of 24 week tx just stopped incivek 2 1/2 weeks ago..

[beeblessed]

Hi.  I do not typically get Flu shots, but decided  that since flu like symptoms were a side effect of tx, I wanted the extra protection to know that I didn't really have the flu.  Got the shot in August and started tx in September.

[beeblessed]

Oops!  I wasn't finished.
Also, since our immune systems are compromised during tx, and since I am around an abundance of people (taking public transportation, co-workers, grocery shopping, etc.), the exposure it greater.

[his3707]

got mine yesterday at week 22  OUCH!

[spyderman370]

Thanks to all on info I will get flu shot Tuesday.
BTW, I just got my 12 week PCR results and am still UND RVR -since I was eRVR UND at 4 weeks, 12 more weeks to go on SOC and fini...I hope, fingers crossed.

[Gerbils]

My doc said to get one 2 wks ago and I did at week 14 of triple tx but finished incivek 4 wks ago.

Congrats on the UND RVR. On to SVR for you!