I finished treatment on Oct. 11th. I went in to see my PCP on Oct. 24th for a weird skin rash and while there he advised a Flu shot, which I had last year before beginning Tx, and a Pnumonia vaccination. I had a very bad reaction to the Pnu. Vac. Swelling on my shoulder the size of a golf ball, skin inflamation etc. I also developed a ringing in my ears and a fever. I'm still getting the ringing in the ears but the other Sx have gotten better. Based on my experience, I would advise caution on the Pnu. Vac.
I am still having problems with rbc, wbc, hgb and platelets and advised my PCP of the current levels before agreeing to the injections. So it's possible the Pnu. Vac. had some effect there. Neither my G.I. or PCP knows if this is a possibility.
My doctor gave me the flue shot and pneumonia shots last year and told me to get the flue shot this year as well.
I'm on chemo now for HCV and chemo patients are encouraged to get the flu shot.
I opted to get the inactive (killed) vaccine, not the live active vaccine, and this has less chance of giving you a mild flu. My reasoning was my immune system is weakened, let's vaccinate with the thing least likely to cause complications or tax an already taxed system.
Whether on tx or not, HCV people are advised to vaccinate at my clinic.
I also got the pneumonia before beginning tx. You only need this one once, not every year.
I also got vaccines for Hep A and B.
whatever vaccines you can get that will prevent you from contracting these things, get.
The reason is the liver and immune system are already weakened, and a full blown case of any of these will do far more harm to you than to the average person....so a stitch in time will save more than nine in this case. An ounce of prevention may do more than spare you a bad flu, it may with HCV be what saves your life.
mb
I know this isn't quite what you're asking, but my doctor had me get a flu shot and a pneumonia shot when I started treating (since the interferon could degrade my ability to fight infection). Also, I was in the hospital and they tried to give me a pneumonia shot every time I was there and they knew I had hcv and was treating. So, obviously, you would ask your doc - but I think it must be something they encourage.
Here is a Texas advisory from 2004 in which people with liver and heart issues, as well as people with HIV are encouraged to get the pneumonia and flu shot.
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20041216.shtm
my dr gave me the clearance to get one..iam stage 2 and Grade 2, said it wouldnt hurt me