Liver transplant and Swine Flu Vaccination

To: Doctor Thomas D. Schiano

Subject: Swine Flu Vaccine.

Dear Doctor, hello.

At first, I would like to inform you that on January 6, 1998 I underwent an Orthotopic Liver Transplant operation at the Mount Sinai Hospital.  My first allograft failed and I received a second transplant on January 9, 1998.  Despite receiving an ABO incompatible liver (blood type A donor), I have been doing well.  My blood type is O+.

Secondly, I would like to ask you if I should worry about the swine flu.  Do you think the Swine Flu Vaccine is safe?  It is a LIVE vaccine.  Flu shots are made of killed influenza virus, while FluMist is a live but weakened strain so it could pose a problem for people with poor immune systems.  One question for some people with compromised immune systems is whether the flu shot will actually help them, given their poor immune defenses.

Will it be safe for me to take this?  Do you recommend that I take it?  

Thirdly, I ask you to give me another advice about the pneumococcal  vaccine.
Do you suggest I take it instead of the swine flu vaccine?
May I take both of them with the regular influenza vaccine?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you very much.                                  

                                                                                     Truly yours,

                                                                           Sophocles Papakonstantinou



I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you very much.                                  

                                                                                     Truly yours,

[gilmane]

Regarding H1N1 Vaccines, there are two types, the nasal mist is a live virus and should not be taken by transplant patients. See Dr Schiano's reply to "Live H1N1 Vaccines" 8/4/2009.  One of the injectable vaccines is made from live viruses but they are killed in the processing before the vaccine is released by the manufacturer. The rest of the H1N1 Vaccines are not made with live virus.