[ByYourSide]

High-dose or normal-dose flu vaccine (2016-17)?

by ByYourSide on Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:05 am

My husband is 67, one year post stem cell transplant (SCT), and in remission. It is time to get a flu shot and I am researching what vaccine is available for this season. I see that there is a vaccine for people 65 years of age and older, and it is a "high dose" for his age group. Which vaccine should my husband get, particularly given that he's had a stem cell transplant. Should he get the high-dose vaccine, or opt for the regular dose? I'll be calling his oncologist next week, but I'm curious what advice others have or have received.

Thank you and have a good weekend!

[NStewart]

Re: High-dose or normal-dose flu vaccine (2016-17)?

by NStewart on Sat Oct 01, 2016 10:53 am

I get the high dose. It's recommended for those who are over 65 and those who are immune compromised. My oncologist has said that the vaccine probably doesn't provide us with much protection because of the multiple myeloma, but that the high dose is more likely to provide some. He still recommends that I get it every year for whatever level of protection may develop. He says that getting the flu with multiple myeloma could be disastrous. I got my shot 2 weeks ago.

Nancy in Phila

[Nancy Shamanna]

Re: High-dose or normal-dose flu vaccine (2016-17)?

by Nancy Shamanna on Sat Oct 01, 2016 1:38 pm

It may be possible to get the flu shot too early! If the immunities to the viruses were to wear off before the peak of flu season, which may be in about February, this would not help. I read an article about this recently. However, I had thought that one might have immunities to many viruses from past flu shots, assuming one gets the vaccination every year. Does anyone know of a scientific article which would indicate as to how long the immunities in flu shots last?

[K_Shash]

Re: High-dose or normal-dose flu vaccine (2016-17)?

by K_Shash on Sat Oct 01, 2016 3:33 pm

I just asked my oncologist that very question. Last year the medicine department nurse made sure that he pre-approved the flu shot. My oncologist was not sure about the high-strength vaccine and told me that I can definitely get the normal one.

I am quite curious to know what your oncologist advises.

Just another side effect: I had researched last year and I could only find only one report on the subject of the effect a flu or a flu shot can have on free light chain readings (which doubled when I had a flu) . Apparently the flu shot can cause a 25% increase in the kappa or other free light chain levels. I am not sure how it would affect a patient's M-spike, though.