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Cold & flu immunity after a stem cell transplant
I'm wondering, do you lose your immunity to the colds and flu that you've had during your lifetime after stem cell transplant? My hubby is on track to have an autologous stem cell transplant.
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wekebu - Name: Wendy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Hubby
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Cold & flu immunity after a stem cell transplant
Hi Wekebu:
I think you have asked what sounds like a very simple, logical question. The answer to that question, however, I do not thinks is perfectly well by even the best myeloma experts, but based on my research, a simplistic answer is as follows. You will retain a fraction of your immunity. That fraction could be small, nears zero, but maybe something like half. They do a test, at about a year, called the titers. Based on that test, they will re-administer the childhood vaccinations, something like a year later (varies somewhat from center to center). Good luck .
I think you have asked what sounds like a very simple, logical question. The answer to that question, however, I do not thinks is perfectly well by even the best myeloma experts, but based on my research, a simplistic answer is as follows. You will retain a fraction of your immunity. That fraction could be small, nears zero, but maybe something like half. They do a test, at about a year, called the titers. Based on that test, they will re-administer the childhood vaccinations, something like a year later (varies somewhat from center to center). Good luck .
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Cold & flu immunity after a stem cell transplant
Your question has lots of answers depending on who you talk with. My oncologist believes that we keep our immunity, but it isn't as effective because of the myeloma. He recommends the flu shot every year, the pneumonia vaccine every 5 years, and the Prevnar 13 vaccine. He says not to get any vaccines that are "live" vaccines such as the shingles vaccine. He doesn't advocate getting all of the childhood vaccinations done again after having a transplant.
During the first year after I had my autologous stem cell transplant, I had several significant respiratory infections and I had a bout of shingles. Since then, 5 years now, I haven't had any illnesses at all. So, I think that it took my body about a year to build up its tolerance to various viruses that float around all of the time.
Nancy in Phila
During the first year after I had my autologous stem cell transplant, I had several significant respiratory infections and I had a bout of shingles. Since then, 5 years now, I haven't had any illnesses at all. So, I think that it took my body about a year to build up its tolerance to various viruses that float around all of the time.
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Cold & flu immunity after a stem cell transplant
JPC and Nancy,
Thanks. I'm a bit relieved because I assumed he'd have 0% resistance to colds and flu. I'll be happy for 'some'.
Thanks. I'm a bit relieved because I assumed he'd have 0% resistance to colds and flu. I'll be happy for 'some'.
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wekebu - Name: Wendy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Hubby
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Cold & flu immunity after a stem cell transplant
My doctor recommended that I get the shingles shot. I have not had chicken pox and I am 69 years old. Since I have multiple myeloma (diagnosed in November 2015) and it appears dormant at this time. I had radiation December 2015 to January 2016 and I am receiving only a Zometa drip once a month.
What are the dangers of the shingles shot?
What are the dangers of the shingles shot?
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TheQuill - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov 16, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 68
Re: Cold & flu immunity after a stem cell transplant
Good Morning, Quill,
There is another thread here in the Beacon forum about "Shingles vaccine for smoldering patients?' (started March 7, 2014).
I think that the real concern about the shingles vaccine is that it is a 'live' vaccine, i.e. not 'inactivated'. In theory, if one's immune system could not fight it off, it could actually cause shingles in your system.
I re-took many inactivated and activated vaccines starting for 1 -2 years after my auto stem cell transplant, following a protocol from the public health clinic in Alberta. This seems to be an individual choice though, as are many treatments for myeloma.
As Nancy Stewart noted, having the pneumoccal vaccine(s) and also an annual influenza shot, gives us and the general population protection against some infectious diseases.
Hope that helps. If the people close to you have vaccines that are safe for them to take (i.e. they are not immune compromised or have other health issues that might prevent them taking some vaccines), that could offer some protection to you too. (That is a good reason to stay away from others who are infectious, with shingles or other illnesses.)
There is another thread here in the Beacon forum about "Shingles vaccine for smoldering patients?' (started March 7, 2014).
I think that the real concern about the shingles vaccine is that it is a 'live' vaccine, i.e. not 'inactivated'. In theory, if one's immune system could not fight it off, it could actually cause shingles in your system.
I re-took many inactivated and activated vaccines starting for 1 -2 years after my auto stem cell transplant, following a protocol from the public health clinic in Alberta. This seems to be an individual choice though, as are many treatments for myeloma.
As Nancy Stewart noted, having the pneumoccal vaccine(s) and also an annual influenza shot, gives us and the general population protection against some infectious diseases.
Hope that helps. If the people close to you have vaccines that are safe for them to take (i.e. they are not immune compromised or have other health issues that might prevent them taking some vaccines), that could offer some protection to you too. (That is a good reason to stay away from others who are infectious, with shingles or other illnesses.)
Last edited by Nancy Shamanna on Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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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: Cold & flu immunity after a stem cell transplant
The vaccine for shingles is a live virus therefore should not be taken. BUT you can take a medication to prevent getting shingles: valacyclovir.
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