Dear all,
I have been trying to find out how much time one should wait after ASCT to get a "new" round of childhood vaccines????
Best regards from Norway
Forums
Re: Vaccination - childhood vaccine
Hi Christine...in our province in Canada, the protocol is to wait a year after ASCT to get the non-live vaccines. Then, 2 years after transplant, for the 'live' ones, such as measles, mumps, rubella. I actually wrote a column on this topic a few months ago (called Getting my CV in Order). i think that the timing of giving vaccines varies from one place to the other...and it also has to approved by the transplant unit, and the public health clinic. They are health criteria that must be met in order for you to be given your vaccines. I think that you should ask at the transplant unit about the vaccines, or go through your oncologist for that info. Best wishes to you in Norway too!
Getting my CV in Order:
https://myelomabeacon.org/headline/2012/08/09/northern-lights-getting-my-cv-in-order/
Getting my CV in Order:
https://myelomabeacon.org/headline/2012/08/09/northern-lights-getting-my-cv-in-order/
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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: Vaccination - childhood vaccine
I get my care at Princess Margaret Hospital in Ontario (one of the Top cancer hospitals in Canada)
I asked my multiple myeloma specialist if I need to get vaccines and she said no. She said they recommend the flu, the pneumonia, and Hepatitis but that is about it. I did have my titres before my transplant and was told I have no protection against Rubella, so I was supposed to get a booster before having a baby but that is about it.
I think it might have to do with the fact I'm relatively young, and we anticipate somewhere down the road I have a good chance of getting another Stem Cell Transplant? (I responded really well to the first one, and have maintained remission for over two years drug free)
I asked my multiple myeloma specialist if I need to get vaccines and she said no. She said they recommend the flu, the pneumonia, and Hepatitis but that is about it. I did have my titres before my transplant and was told I have no protection against Rubella, so I was supposed to get a booster before having a baby but that is about it.
I think it might have to do with the fact I'm relatively young, and we anticipate somewhere down the road I have a good chance of getting another Stem Cell Transplant? (I responded really well to the first one, and have maintained remission for over two years drug free)
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lys2012 - Name: Alyssa
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2010, Toronto, Canada
- Age at diagnosis: 32
Re: Vaccination - childhood vaccine
I had my sct june 2012. I was told that I can get the flu shot in December and my immunizations in March.
I'm from the Northeast US.
I'm from the Northeast US.
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Gailinri88
Re: Vaccination - childhood vaccine
Hi Lys2012...getting one's vaccines is optional of course, just like any other health care treatment. I felt strongly about regaining my immunities to all possible diseases 'out there', having lost all my immunities during the HDT (is that the right acronym for the high dose chemo?). Some patients do get them, some don't, based on conversations I have had with others. But I think you do have the right to ask for them if you want them...they are available to you! And if you are healthy now, that is the time to get them, but not if you were pregnant probably!
I hope not to have to take another stem cell transplant of any sort, since it is a long recovery time and one does have these 'immunity' issues afterwards. I have the frozen stem cells in storage, but have my fingers crossed that I can stay healthy, or take other treatments in the future. So, looking forward, I chose to be immunized so as to give myself the best possible protection that way. So it's just 'food for thought'.
I hope not to have to take another stem cell transplant of any sort, since it is a long recovery time and one does have these 'immunity' issues afterwards. I have the frozen stem cells in storage, but have my fingers crossed that I can stay healthy, or take other treatments in the future. So, looking forward, I chose to be immunized so as to give myself the best possible protection that way. So it's just 'food for thought'.
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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: Vaccination - childhood vaccine
Hi Christine, Yes you should get re-vaccinated after ASCT, but there is a schedule you should follow and your Transplant Center should have given you a booklet with that info. After 6 months, I highly recommend the regular Flu Shot with the H1N1, of course, make sure the shot contains only dead cells; No Live Vaccines.
You doctor should have all this info for you and it is very important to follow the schedule.
Hope all is well with you in Norway. Would love to visit there one day.
Best Regards from Florida, USA
george
You doctor should have all this info for you and it is very important to follow the schedule.
Hope all is well with you in Norway. Would love to visit there one day.
Best Regards from Florida, USA
george
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GeorgeLJurak - Name: George Jurak
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan. 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 59
Re: Vaccination - childhood vaccine
Thank you all!!!! The point is that the advice is different all over the world with variations between 3 month and a year. Strange that 
Have a wonderful day!
Have a wonderful day!
Re: Vaccination - childhood vaccine
Christine-
I think that it depends on the philosophy of the center where you are being treated. My oncologist doesn't feel that being revaccinated is necessary. He says that if we receive our own stem cells that we should be getting back the immunity that we had already developed. He also doesn't believe that there is enough evidence to show that getting them again helps us to develop immunity with out damaged immune systems. He does feel that getting the flu vaccine annually is important, but that it may not mean anything to us. He does say to stay away from all vaccines that are made from live viruses.
So, the only vaccine that I have gotten since my ASCT is the annual flu vaccine. I do plan on getting the pnuemonia vaccine again next year since it will be due again.
Nancy in Phila
I think that it depends on the philosophy of the center where you are being treated. My oncologist doesn't feel that being revaccinated is necessary. He says that if we receive our own stem cells that we should be getting back the immunity that we had already developed. He also doesn't believe that there is enough evidence to show that getting them again helps us to develop immunity with out damaged immune systems. He does feel that getting the flu vaccine annually is important, but that it may not mean anything to us. He does say to stay away from all vaccines that are made from live viruses.
So, the only vaccine that I have gotten since my ASCT is the annual flu vaccine. I do plan on getting the pnuemonia vaccine again next year since it will be due again.
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: Vaccination - childhood vaccine
News flash! This weekend I was at an educational patient conference held in Winnipeg, MB. oNE of the speakers was Dr. Robert Kyle, who is very famous in myeloma matters. A question from the audience was about vaccines. While he feels that people should get their childhood vaccines post-transplant, he warned us strongly that NO myeloma patient should get the shingles vaccine. It is a live vaccine that could cause shingles in an immuno compromised patient. Post transplant, patients take acyclovir, an anti-viral medication (I took that for two years post transplant). So I thought I would pass that along to those who are wondering about what vaccines to take!
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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: Vaccination - childhood vaccine
Nancy, thanks for that info. I had my quarterly appointment with my myeloma specialist and I asked her about the shingles and flu vaccines. She was actually okay with both. I am about 16 months post ASCT. The shingles vaccine is a problem for patients currently in treatment with chemo because of the suppressed immune system but I think those who are not in treatment may be okay. Maybe someone else here can weigh in on this.
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indy mike - Name: Mike Mathias
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 51
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