Vaccines for international travel

[Freezingupnorth]

Hello, I have a friend with this disorder and has been told that while her body can't accept the flu vaccine, it can accept vaccines for TB, Malaria, Hepatitus (hepatitis), Typhoid and whatever else she might need to travel to the Dominican Republic. Is this the case because she was under the impression that with myathenia gravis, having a compromised immune system that she can't take the required vaccines for traveling to the Carribean. What's the truth?

[Dr Vinod]

For some medical diseases where the immunity is low, pregnancies, age specific cases we cannot give all vaccines.
Immunocompromised state is when there is decreased immunity and we cannot give live vaccines.
Risk of damage is more than protection.
A vaccine is mostly a live virus/bacteria or a toxin given in low doses to increase your immune response so that when the original virus/bacteria attacks you, your body immune system is ready for attack!
Take care

[Freezingupnorth]

Yeah, what's strange is how she can't receive the flu vaccine but was told she can receive the others. Is this right? She's 40 and has to have a monthly shot for something related to myasthenia gravis. Basically, is it a good or bad idea for her to travel to areas of the world with so much risk of disease?

[Dr Vinod]

Flu vaccine is a killed vaccine and can produce fever, local inflammation at the site of injection and very rarely Guillain Barre Syndrome (Ascending Paralysis).
So they say no give for Myasthenia Gravis.
But there are also live flu vaccines in some countries like Russia.
The flu vaccine is grown on eggs so people allergic to eggs also should not take without testing..
There are also highlypurified vaccines and also Recombinant vaccines.
The Community Medicine specialist in your area should be consulted.

It is not a good idea to risk without proper preventive methods to areas of the world with so much risk of diseases.
With Myasthenia Gravis should not, if healthy may be you can take a risk based on all factors put together.
Take care and please come back to us on further queries.

[mogulbasher]

Dr. Vinod, Could you explain to me the difference between the various vaccines? How is the flu vaccine different from the ones for malaria, typhoid, dengue fever, Hep A/B?  How is it possible that those are safe for her? That's what her neurologist told her. That she coulddn't have the one for the flu but could have the others. I don't think she should have any of them.