Flu Shots - Are we high risk?

[karma2004]

Should we consider ourselves in the high risk category if we are on treatment and try to get the shot this year?

[Honey15637]

Alot of people have stated that they do get flu shots while on tx. I'm personally trying to pass up any extra meds,,shots that I can this year until I finish tx. My dr also said at one time,,,,it would be very unlikely for anyone to catch the flu while we are on interferon tx.

[britgirl]

It is extrememy unlikely as interferon is what the body produces to combat flu and people on tx are taking mega doses of the stuff!

[whoaisme]

I agree, the interferon should keep the flu away.

[doll face]

Since I am so close to the end of tx( 4 more weeks) my doctor highly reccommended that I do get a flu shot this year. With the shortage again this year I have to bring in a letter from my doctor stating that I am high risk. They let me no in no uncertain terms without that letter NO shot.

[Lynne5477]

Hmmmm. No colds.  Me either.  Guess we should consider that a good sx?

[annainitaly]

huh ?!?
haven't thought of it so far!
I'm on the opposite side as yours, being on immunosoppressants... have already got a sore throat and low voice this week (and it's still VERY warm, 26 C° here these days).  I'll ask my doctor about it. any advice from you guys ?
thank you anna

[Sam Hall]

I was puzzeled by this one when on tx and no i had no colds or anything when others around me did.But what about post tx when your immune system is back to a more "normal" level. I recently refused to go onto an acute pschy ward as they had an outbreak of Norwark Virus because i believe myself to be immuno-comprimised. Am i being over cautious?
S H

[cuteus]

no colds or flu for me either, even when people around lme were coughing their lungs out.

[Soleus]

Interferon is just the trigger that HCV suppresses to tell your immune system it has an invader and needs to produce antibodies and killer T cells to fight. Your body will immediately recognize the flu virus as an invader and begin to produce different antibodies until it finds the one that kills it. Then it will mass-produce the one that worked to do battle. By this time though the flu virus will have replicated to the point that it will have to be all out war, making you sick. Interferon will not prevent you from getting the flu. However you’re already at Defcon 1 so you should be prepared to fight it off without a problem if your immune system is otherwise healthy. I would not think you would be considered at high risk for serious complications from catching the flu unless your WBC was really low. Then you could have a problem. Ideally a flu shot would give your body the key to a quick victory so you would not have to fight a battle on two fronts. The shortage is very serious though; I would not want to take a dose away from some one who really needs it.

[louisep]

I was told to stay away from anyone with a cold or the flu as my immune system would be low while on tx.
I did get a cold while on tx, though not as bad as I normally get.

[lookin-up]

Not only do I have a Hep C Doc, but I see my cancer Doc every 4 months who is (in my logic) MORE informed about interferon.  He gave me a flu shot, because the Tx for HCV can lower your resistance......it is a chronic condition, so now that there is a shortage of flu shots, we qualify...even tho it has been 3+ months past my HCV TX.

Hope this helps someone

[hope2Bok]

I was told to try to stay away from sick people as much as possible because you don't want your interferons taking time out fighting other sicknesses instead.
Makes sense to me.
Anne

[GALLIUM]

my hematologist that treats me for the leukeamia doesnt want me taking flu shots, he spoke with the hepatologist that treats my hcv, and they both agreed that it was a bad idea to take the shots with my totaly screwed imune systom.

[audreywald]

We are for sure supposed to get flu shots. We are at higher risk of problems if we get the flu. For sure.

[DebbieDo]

How are you doing?  Nice to see you here :)