Re: Flu shot 2011

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Beth, for the reminder.

My recollection and impression is that the period of time to

avoid close contact with those who get the live nasal spray

is the same as for other live immunizations - 30 days.

That's so difficult when it involves family members with

whom we want to be together. For that reason, it's good to

ask everyone in the family to be sure they get the shot and

not the spray.

There was some discussion and question last year as to where

to find the Fluzone (high dose) shot. Amazingly, my

internal medicine clinic did not have it, nor had they heard

of it. Neither had a number of pharmacies in my area, but I

finally found it at Winn Dixie's pharmacy. That situation

may have changed by this year, however, since last year was

the first year it was available, from what I could tell.

Best to all,

Karni

[Guest guest]

Last year I got the mega fluzone shot at Safeway. They had

a very aggressive vaccinating program. Then Walgreen's got

on board big time. This year my Walgreen's in San Francisco

has the over 65 mega shot as well as the other. My husband

just got the big one. I'm waiting a few days more to

recover from my breast surgery .. not sure if that is

necessary or not.

I would love it if everyone got their flu shots, but

California especially is very anti-vaccination, sigh. That

is why we are having a whooping cough epidemic. And my

Sierra Foothill county is the least vaccinated in the state.

Lots of moms think they are doing their kids a favor and

developing strong immune systems for them by bypassing

vaccination. I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut on

this one. (So I often don't, LOL)

Lynn

[Guest guest]

Beth - Where did you find the information on Fluzone HD,

single vial, and non preservative being the best thing for

us? I can find lots of information about getting the

vaccine, avoiding the live vaccine, etc. but could not find

that particular information anywhere in the several posts I

read. I would like to be able to take a copy to my doctor.

Last year no one in my area or at UCLA that I talked to knew

anything about the HD vaccine.

Thanks! Pat

[Guest guest]

Thank you Beth for this info.

In all my ongoing CLL research this is the first time I

heard of Fluzone Hi-Dose flu vaccine.

Here's some questions about Fluzone Hi-Dose - I'm hoping

some of our excellent posters can help with.

- Is it a dead vaccine?

- Is it safe for CLL patients to get Fluzone Hi-Dose?

- I got my 2011 flu vaccine from my PCP last week - but I

bet it was not the Fluzone Hi-Dose vaccine. Can someone also

get a Fluzone Hi-Dose flu shot AFTER already receiving the

weaker regular 2011 flu shot?

A BIG thank you to all you posters who take the time

to share so much excellent info -

Warm regards - Patti Kruse

Beth wrote:

/message/15941

[Guest guest]

Pat, here's the link, but last year it was not as widely

distributed, nor available. Should not be problem this

year, especially at UCLA... My pulmonologist's partner did

not order it, and denied it existed until the man who treats

me pulled out his PDA to show him. that was rich.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/fluvaccine.htm

there are other pages there, but this one covers most of

what you'd need. I had the same problem last year, but I

see a couple of people have already found it even in the

chain drug stores, HD, so it should be easier this year.

be well, beth

[Guest guest]

Pattie,

just posted the link to CDC for Pat, see other post, but

it's not a live vaccine. At the moment it is what CLL

patients would be recommended to take since we are

considered immune compromised and for those of us over 65,

we would have it recommended for that reason as well. It is

a higher dose.

The question some have is whether we are able to mount an

antibody response to any shots. However most doctors who

treat CLL still recommend we get it. You could find out if

the shot you got was HD, or not, and if not ask about

repeating the shot in a few weeks. I believe Dr. Hamblin

dealt with that on his blog, however that was last year, and

shots are different each year. Year before last the H1N1

was not part of the seasonal flu shot, but this year it is.

(as well as many other strains). We don't all mount or not

mount responses at the same rate, any more than we seem to

do anything much the same.

be well, beth fillman

[Guest guest]

Here's the link to the CDC information sheet about Fluzone

Hi-Dose flu vaccine. It explains that Fluzone Hi-Dose

vaccines contain 4 times the amount of antigen (the part of

the vaccine that prompts the body to make anyibody)compared

to the regular flu shots.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/qa_fluzone.htm

Patti Kruse

[Guest guest]

Pat,

I had read the same description as Beth .. that the high

dose fluzone was single loaded syringe with no

preservatives.

Here is one link describing that

http://www.drugs.com/pro/fluzone.html

Lynn

[Guest guest]

Thank you Beth for the reminder; That time is here again.

This message is mainly for UK patients:

Although CLL patients may not get the full protection

from vaccines, it is recommended that we are vaccinated.

Influenza vaccine -is recommended annually before the

influenza season. Up to date Pneumococcal vaccination is

recommended for all patients.

There are different triggers to be on the vaccination recall

list. You may be over 65 you may have a co-morbidity that

puts you in a high risk category or you may be on the cancer

register. It would appear that not all cases get a

notification, practices vary and often younger patients can

be missed from the list. Advice received from my GP today is

to contact your GP surgery in the first two weeks of

September, they will then know when vaccination stock will

be issued, You may be able to make an appointment then, or

will be notified when to contact them. if in doubt do not

rely on them contacting you. better to be vaccinated early

than join the soup in the waiting area later when risk of

infection will be greater. I am booked for October 1st which

is the first day my Gp's surgery commences vaccinating.

Take care

Nick(UK)

[Guest guest]

I thought I would field a question that has quite rightly

been raised by other patients, which is how important is it

for the patient's direct family, within the household.

partners and children to be vaccinated against seasonal

influenza?

I know the suggestion for vaccinating the " herd " , I think

professor Hamblin's writings also suggest this. Not a

problem getting my GP to accept vaccinating my partner.

However, with two pre teens at two different schools, with

kids from two different catchment areas, it's quite likely

that an influenza virus could make it home. This question

becomes more important the less of a response I get from

vaccination myself (but will not know).

I guess I'm trying to find out what is the recommendation

for CLL patients with young children under the same roof and

how does this change with disease progression. What is

practised in the UK?

Nick (UK)

[Guest guest]

Nick, I don't know the practice in the UK. My guess would be

that everyone in the household should be vaccinated, but not

with a live virus variety - eg the spray, which obviously

children would prefer - because then they are shedding the

virus while around you. You might also want to not arrange

activities for them which involve you being in close contact

with their friends if they have received the live virus.

You can't protect them from what goes on in school. When I

was teaching we often had parents send very sick children to

school because they didn't want to miss work. That means the

other important thing would be to encourage hand washing and

other measures to lessen the chance of an infection coming home.

Good luck!

Pat

[Guest guest]

That is really going to depend upon the recommendations from

your respective governmental agencies. Here in the US, it

is now recommended that everyone receive the flu vaccine.

Rick Furman, MD

Nick Pet wrote:

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