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Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Transplant Discussion => Topic started by: RightSide on September 30, 2011, 02:44:52 PM

Title: Two flu shots?
Post by: RightSide on September 30, 2011, 02:44:52 PM
I've seen some studies that suggest that many organ transplant patients don't produce enough antibodies from the flu vaccine, due to immunosuppressants blunting the immune response to the vaccine.

Have any of your physicians suggested taking two flu shots--one in the early autumn plus a booster in late autumn--in order to be sure your body develops enough antibodies to the flu?
Title: Re: Two flu shots?
Post by: sullidog on September 30, 2011, 08:26:41 PM
never heard of that, did you know they have a needleless flu shot now?
Title: Re: Two flu shots?
Post by: Marina on September 30, 2011, 08:42:06 PM
I've seen some studies that suggest that many organ transplant patients don't produce enough antibodies from the flu vaccine, due to immunosuppressants blunting the immune response to the vaccine.

Have any of your physicians suggested taking two flu shots--one in the early autumn plus a booster in late autumn--in order to be sure your body develops enough antibodies to the flu?

My  Transplant  center  never  mentioned  this  to  me.                 I  had my  transplant  last  Nov 2010,   at  discharge  my  coordinator   told  me not to  forget to  get  my  flu  shot.


did you know they have a needleless flu shot now?
Are you  referring to the  nasal  spray  flu  shots??   
If you  are, that's  a live  virus  vaccine,  Transplant  centers  are  against   any  live  virus  vaccines  for  transplant  recipients.
Title: Re: Two flu shots?
Post by: tyefly on September 30, 2011, 08:48:15 PM
I am getting two flu shots this year....   One next week and again at the end of Oct.....  I ask transplant team and they said as long as its not live virus... it would be ok...... 

I am going to walgreens to get the 1st.... and when my health insurance starts to off them at the end of Oct I will get the second.....

this will be the first year to get two shots.... Ihave always done one....
Title: Re: Two flu shots?
Post by: Chris on September 30, 2011, 09:49:25 PM
I just read about this in the transplant newsletter I get. There were about 3 or four articles about the flu and transplants. I can scan it in and post it later.
 
Title: Re: Two flu shots?
Post by: sullidog on October 01, 2011, 06:30:14 PM
No, this is something new this year, it's not a live virus, they use an airgun to shoot the vaxeen in your arm.
Title: Re: Two flu shots?
Post by: Chris on October 01, 2011, 07:29:05 PM
No airguns used in any office I've been to. Only have seen those in the news. But what I always read was that transplant patients should never get a live virus immunization so some are not even given if travelling overseas..
 
Been busy around the house, but will post the news article later on.
Title: Re: Two flu shots?
Post by: Rerun on October 02, 2011, 06:32:11 AM
Transplants should NOT take the nasal vaccine.  That is a live virus and you don't have the immune system to fight it off.

Title: Re: Two flu shots?
Post by: cariad on October 02, 2011, 05:47:52 PM
Have any of your physicians suggested taking two flu shots--one in the early autumn plus a booster in late autumn--in order to be sure your body develops enough antibodies to the flu?

Not once in 35 years.

Just received my flu shot from transplant centre. They are still treating me as immunosuppressed even though it's been 6+ months. I never bothered to get the shot last year, so this is progress.