Varicella Vaccinations and other Live Virus Vaccines

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to mention, for those whose children are or will be waiting for transplants, or for any adults who have not had chicken pox, and who have children:

I spoke to 's tx coordinator last week regarding Emma and having their Varicella boosters. can't have his booster because of it being a live virus, and I wasn't sure if the girls should have it, then, concerned about it being risky for them being around him during that two week period afterwards. Marie told me that, actually, it's extremely important for ANY children living in the household with to have the original vaccination and booster (if they haven't had chicken pox) due to the fact that can't get the booster anymore.

Now, normally, I would not even worry about getting varicella vaccinations done on the kids. Ch. pox is more of an annoyance (okay, extremely uncomfortable and miserable, and parents often have to take time off work) than a life threatening problem in the vast majority of cases. But with having been 15 weeks premature, of course the girls needed to have the shot. And since his lungs weren't good to begin with, we made sure to get him the initial vaccination.

Anyway, I wanted to mention this, so that those of you with kids old enough for the booster (I believe a minimum of 4-6 yrs old if they got it at about age 1) who are or may in the future be listed for transplant can make sure you have that vaccination taken care of, as the booster won't be able to be given once they're on immunosuppression. And to be able to make sure any children in the household are adequately vaccinated before others are transplanted. Any live virus vaccines. Varicella, MMR, Oral polio (OPV), TB, yellow fever, and oral typhoid (I don't know how many of you'll be getting those last three, but who knows). Also the nasal flu vaccine, FluMist, is a live virus vaccine.

Now, if only they could come up with an EBV vaccine for us to give these transplant people!!!

Ami - Migraines, FMS

mom to - 9 yrs - Double Lung Tx 2/26/2006, PSC - Tx 7/16/2007, Diabetes, Hypothyroid, GERD, ADD, Osteopenia, Varices http://caringbridge.org/visit/seanfox

mom to Emma - 13 yrs - Migraines

stepmom to - 14 yrs - ADHD, ODD

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