Facing getting the Flu Shot - need advice

[ursaminor]

Recently my DH and DS moved close to my MIL (DH's mom). She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma about 2 to 3 months ago, a rare plasma cell cancer. Tho she is in very good health otherwise, she is soon facing a bone marrow transplant that will leave her with no immunity at all. She will be like a baby, and will slowly have to work up the life long immune system she once had.

We moved close to help care for her 16 yr old son while she is in the hospital for a month after the transplant. The Doctors have informed her that she should not be around anyone who is not vaccinated once she is discharged after her transplant (and probably not now, either).

Dh, our 7 mo DS, and I are not vaccinated. Vaxing our son is not on the table because we feel strong with our decision, and if that means he cannot have contact with his Grandma for a few months, so be it. But now DH and I are faced with whether or not to get flu shots. Dh has just recovered from a long cold - we both feel we were expose to H1N1. We normally would not choose the vaccine - I personally do not want it at all. Is there any way to test our anti-bodies for flu immunity? Any insight would be much appreciated .

[alegna]

I would absolutely NOT get vaxed in that situation. There are many strains of the flu- vax is only for a couple.

I *would* be scrupulous and not go around MIL after her transplant if there was the slightest sniffle.

-Angela

[just_lily]

What does your MIL think?

Logically, it doesn't make sense. The regular flu vax is only something like 25% effective, and that is when they manage to guess the right strains. I am pretty sure I have already read that this year's is already considered a miss-match. There is no telling how, or if, the swine flu vax will be effective at all.

Plus there is the idea that if you are vaccinated you are immune to all diseases, and if you are not that you are some kind of walking pitri dish. That doesn't work for me. Even if you got the flu vax (and we assume it worked) you would still be suseptable to unmeasureable numbers of colds, other flu strains and assorted viruses. So having a flu vax just gives a false sense of security.

So my choice would be to pass on the vax, practice scrupulous hand-washing and hygeine routines, and stay away from MIL if showing any symptoms or after being around anyone with symptoms.

But that being said, MIL has to be ok with this plan as well. If she is not comfortable with you not getting the vaccines she may have to look into other plans for her care.

[FernG]

My friend's mom had a bone marrow transplant a few years ago and was specifically instructed to stop all vaccines for her children. After about 2 years, the doctors told her that she could continue vaccinating the preschooler, but only if the child stayed with another family for 3 weeks after each vaccine even if the vaccine is thought to not shed. I guess each doctor has his own preferences for vaccines.

Best wishes!

[ursaminor]

Originally Posted by FernG

My friend's mom had a bone marrow transplant a few years ago and was specifically instructed to stop all vaccines for her children. After about 2 years, the doctors told her that she could continue vaccinating the preschooler, but only if the child stayed with another family for 3 weeks after each vaccine even if the vaccine is thought to not shed. I guess each doctor has his own preferences for vaccines.

Best wishes!

So from what your telling me, the docs felt that the vax itself is a threat, or being around vax'ed people is also a threat to a compromised immune system? Of course, my MIL cannot have vaccines herself, and I am not sure when she would ever be able to.

So I am wondering if the docs she is working with just dont know what they are talking about in regards to vaccines. Hygiene would be the #1 deffence in my mind - that and little contact. Could my son possibly pose a serious threat if he wasnt vaxed? I just think that's crazy, I always knew/felt that immunizations are partially effective, at best - and anybody can get sick (vax'ed or not), so I really would like to know the doctors logic on this.
We need to speak one on one with my MIL about this. FIL only brought it up to DH last night and then he relayed the conversation to me. I guess we need to be open about it. I really care about my MIL's health and safety, but I also do not want my DH to get a bogus vaccine just so my family believes he is "safe".

[LisaSedai]

I *would* be scrupulous and not go around MIL after her transplant if there was the slightest sniffle.

Unfortunately, you can pass the flu the day before you start feeling sick
If you don't get the flu vax, I would wear a mask when around her just to be on the safe side ( the thick mask- like the one they use for TB) Especially until her white blood cell counts come back up. Probably I would not even visit while she was getting induction either. Back when I worked on a BMT unit (95-04 ) they never told us nurses to get flu vaxed but for the past 3 years hospitals have REALLY been pushing it.

What an awful time of year to have to get a BMT Hope she does well.

[laohaire]

Some vaccines shed, so an immune-compromised person should not be near someone with a shedding vaccine. One of those vaxes is Flumist (though not the injected version). Unfortunately this issue is so tricky and has little to do with facts. I would be concerned about making MIL comfortable, but frustrated at the same time that what is recommended is not in line with evidence. Even setting aside the question of whether vaccines are safe, there's still the question of whether they are effective, and it's a disservice to MIL for a doctor to imply to her that being around vaxed people is safe.

I guess I'd try to talk to MIL about her opinions and comfort level on this, and I'd wear a mask around her as well even if I felt very well.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by LisaSedai

Unfortunately, you can pass the flu the day before you start feeling sick
If you don't get the flu vax, I would wear a mask when around her just to be on the safe side ( the thick mask- like the one they use for TB) Especially until her white blood cell counts come back up. Probably I would not even visit while she was getting induction either. Back when I worked on a BMT unit (95-04 ) they never told us nurses to get flu vaxed but for the past 3 years hospitals have REALLY been pushing it.

The efficacy of the flu vax is very low; if she should where a mask unvax'd, she should where one vax'd.

[ursaminor]

DH is at a point where he is considering taking both the flu vax and H1N1 vax if it is the only way he can be around his mom. DH is afraid if I breach the subject with his Mom she will become upset and stressed. We could talk to FIL but I hate for him to be he go between. maybe I should email her my concerns.

Another thing is, Would DH pose a threat to our son if he got the shots? Should he have minimal contact with our DS right after taking them? I am not comfortable with getting any shots, myself. Are there any links some one can provide about flu vax effectiveness?

[FernG]

Originally Posted by ursaminor

So from what your telling me, the docs felt that the vax itself is a threat, or being around vax'ed people is also a threat to a compromised immune system?

My friend's mother's doctors felt that being around recently vaccinated people was a threat. They instructed her that no family members were to have any vaccines for years. They were concerned about shedding of live viruses and about the overall depression of the immune system that occurs post vaccination. After about 2 years, they thought it was okay for the preschool child to have vaccines as long as she had no contact with her mother for 3 weeks. The preschooler lived with my mother for 3 weeks following each vaccine.

My husband used to work at a premier children's hospital. None of the oncology nurses were allowed to get flu shots or flu mist. The policy varied by unit. In the PICU, which often had oncology overflow and transplant patients, the nurses were forbidden to get the flu mist but encouraged to get the shot. I guess there is no consensus on what is protective to patients.

Unless I found published studies showing that I was in a population likely to have a lower risk of catching the flu after I got the flu vaccine, I would not get the vaccine, but I wouldn't upset my MIL. Obviously I would use the most stringent hygiene possible.

My friend's mother was in a hospital room with a kitchenette with her mother completely quarantined for months until her immune system rebuilt some. They had very strict guidelines for food preparation. Her mother had to cook everything for each meal and no leftovers were allowed. Is your MIL not going to be quarantined with a companion?

[serenbat]

DH is at a point where he is considering taking both the flu vax and H1N1 vax if it is the only way he can be around his mom.

Since the flu vax, regardless of which one, doesn't kick in right away, how long is he (DH) planning to stay away from his mom?

[ursaminor]

Originally Posted by serenbat

Since the flu vax, regardless of which one, doesn't kick in right away, how long is he (DH) planning to stay away from his mom?

MIL's doctor wanted the people in her live vax'ed before she has to have the bone marrow transplant and her immune system is completely wiped. FIL and BIL who live in the same home, just got flu shot last week and did not leave the house or make an effort to stay away from MIL after getting shots. They probably should have, but clearly their doctor doesnt know much about how vaccines work. If DH does get flu shots, perhaps he should stay away from DS and I for a time after.

I dont know if this transplant will be in a few weeks or next month. Could DH be tested for natural immunity?