Does anyone know what the standard practice is regarding if and/or when to give the MMR vaccine after an autologous stem cell transplant?
MMR is a live virus vaccine and I understand there is some risk to receiving this vaccine if the immune system is compromised and it should not be given. What I do not know is how compromised the immune system is three years after a stem cell transplant and what the risk are.
My transplant doctor only gives it to people who would be in situations where there is a higher risk that they may be exposed to measles, such as working in hospitals or in areas where there are large crowds or people from overseas countries. I may be going to France in June if all goes well, and I just read there were 23,000 reported cases of measles in France in the last 5 years. Outbreaks in other European countries are not uncommon.
On a related note, is there a significant risk of complication from the MMR vaccine?
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Re: MMR vaccine after stem cell transplant
Hi Eric,
I had my MMR vaccine two years past transplant as part of a protocol here through the public health vaccination clinic. There is a section there dealing with transplant patients; a lot of them were kidney transplant patients!
Before I could get my 'live' vaccines, I had to be cleared through my oncologist, who notified the bone marrow transplant clinic. The requisition from the BMT clinic was sent over to the public health clinic for me. My blood tests were used in the decision to let me proceed with vaccinations. I had quite healthy blood test results. I know from talking with other patients that not everyone gets all of their vaccinations. At least the flu shot and pneumonia vaccines are recommended for all, I think. I specifically asked to get my vaccinations, and my doctor was fine with that!
I don't know anything about complications, although I think I had an allergic reaction to some of the vaccinations, since my arm was swollen as if I had been stung by bees or wasps!
I had my MMR vaccine two years past transplant as part of a protocol here through the public health vaccination clinic. There is a section there dealing with transplant patients; a lot of them were kidney transplant patients!
Before I could get my 'live' vaccines, I had to be cleared through my oncologist, who notified the bone marrow transplant clinic. The requisition from the BMT clinic was sent over to the public health clinic for me. My blood tests were used in the decision to let me proceed with vaccinations. I had quite healthy blood test results. I know from talking with other patients that not everyone gets all of their vaccinations. At least the flu shot and pneumonia vaccines are recommended for all, I think. I specifically asked to get my vaccinations, and my doctor was fine with that!
I don't know anything about complications, although I think I had an allergic reaction to some of the vaccinations, since my arm was swollen as if I had been stung by bees or wasps!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: MMR vaccine after stem cell transplant
The only vaccines I have had post SCT have been for flu and pneumonia. When I inquired about it, they didn't act concerned at all.
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Guitarnut - Name: Scott Hansgen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Sept 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 47
Re: MMR vaccine after stem cell transplant
Hi Eric,
There are two previous threads here in the forum that you'll probably find helpful:
"One year post transplant - immunization," forum disc. started Nov 13, 2014.
"Vaccines post ASCT," forum disc. started Nov 21, 2013.
In addition to some detailed feedback on the sort of vaccinations others have gotten post transplant, there are postings in those threads that link to the same page at the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website with advice on vaccines for stem cell transplant patients. That advice includes a recommendation that post-SCT patients get an MMR vaccination at 24 months post transplant provided the patient is "immunocompetent" (has an immune system that is functioning reasonably normally).
Beacon Medical Advisor Dr. Jason Valent refers to the CDC advice in this posting in the second thread above.
There are two previous threads here in the forum that you'll probably find helpful:
"One year post transplant - immunization," forum disc. started Nov 13, 2014.
"Vaccines post ASCT," forum disc. started Nov 21, 2013.
In addition to some detailed feedback on the sort of vaccinations others have gotten post transplant, there are postings in those threads that link to the same page at the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website with advice on vaccines for stem cell transplant patients. That advice includes a recommendation that post-SCT patients get an MMR vaccination at 24 months post transplant provided the patient is "immunocompetent" (has an immune system that is functioning reasonably normally).
Beacon Medical Advisor Dr. Jason Valent refers to the CDC advice in this posting in the second thread above.
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Boris Simkovich - Name: Boris Simkovich
Founder
The Myeloma Beacon
Re: MMR vaccine after stem cell transplant
The following is one of the better outward facing documents that I found when I was wondering about this subject:
http://www.fredhutch.org/en/treatment/long-term-follow-up/FAQs/vaccination.html
Note that you can also dig into the various links intended for physicians to take a deeper dive on some of these subjects.
http://www.fredhutch.org/en/treatment/long-term-follow-up/FAQs/vaccination.html
Note that you can also dig into the various links intended for physicians to take a deeper dive on some of these subjects.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: MMR vaccine after stem cell transplant
Thanks everyone for their replies and links to information.
Waiting two years for the immune system to develop post SCT and having the current state of the immune system evaluated through lab work by the treating oncologist makes a lot of sense before proceeding with MMR vaccination. What I certainly should not do is stroll into my GP office or urgent care and just ask to get a MMR vaccination.
June is a long way out still, and I will be seeing my oncologist in the next month and will bring this up then.
Waiting two years for the immune system to develop post SCT and having the current state of the immune system evaluated through lab work by the treating oncologist makes a lot of sense before proceeding with MMR vaccination. What I certainly should not do is stroll into my GP office or urgent care and just ask to get a MMR vaccination.
June is a long way out still, and I will be seeing my oncologist in the next month and will bring this up then.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: MMR vaccine after stem cell transplant
My oncologist gave me the OK to get the MMR vaccine. I got my MMR vaccination last Saturday and, so far, all is well. Though it is a live vaccine, I seem to be handling it just as well as all the other vaccines I received after my SCT.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: MMR vaccine after stem cell transplant
Hi Eric,
I hope all went well with your immunization and that you are looking forward to a trip to France.
I am 2 1/2 years post transplant and have gotten all my vaccines except the live ones (MMR and chickenpox). I really want to get the MMR so I can travel, but am hesitating about it because I am on maintenance therapy (Velcade - one shot every other week, and Revlimid) and, although I'm never neutropenic, my WBC drops unexpectedly from time to time.
Do you mind sharing whether or not you are taking either of these drugs?
I hope all went well with your immunization and that you are looking forward to a trip to France.
I am 2 1/2 years post transplant and have gotten all my vaccines except the live ones (MMR and chickenpox). I really want to get the MMR so I can travel, but am hesitating about it because I am on maintenance therapy (Velcade - one shot every other week, and Revlimid) and, although I'm never neutropenic, my WBC drops unexpectedly from time to time.
Do you mind sharing whether or not you are taking either of these drugs?
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Bookworm - Name: Bookworm
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 44
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