Swine flu, Remicade, CD, what is the strategy?

Swine flu vaccine has started arrived in our state and I think kids and others get preference. Now, I was wondering what is the strategy for those of us on immuno suppressants (pred, meth, remi, humira, etc) and regarding tackling swine flu. I am concerned because swine flu seems to knock out the most healthy people, I guess we have to be doubly concerned. Should we get vaccinated or not, I am not sure what the best method is. Can the CD forumites share the experiences, ideas, and suggestions.

Thanks

Oh, also, I read today that it is a good idea for people with immunosuppression to go ahead and get the pneumonia vaccine. The rationale is this: the swine flu vaccine is unavailable as yet. If you contract the swine flu before the vaccine is available, one of the things to worry about is secondary infections. A lot of people don't die from the swine flu itself, they have problems with secondary infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis, which further complicates things. So, if you get the pneumonia vaccine, that's one less thing to worry about if you get the swine flu. Also, unless you have a latex allergy, the pneumonia vaccine should not have any serious side effects, and you can't get pneumonia from it.

So, this week season flu vaccine, next week pneumonia vaccine, and whenever the swine flu shot is available, he'll get that. Also, it appears that biologics don't suppress the immune system to the extent that you don't derive benefit from vaccines such as the swine flu vaccine. Even on biologics, based on this study, you develop the same antibodies as people who are not taking biologics:
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/56507.php

PV

But any rate thanks for the advice, I am scheduled to start this friday on Remi

Post Edited By Moderator (MMMNAVY) : 10/15/2009 1:55:32 PM (GMT-6)

4. Use good judgement. NEVER rely on information or opinions exchanged via the forums or chat rooms to replace necessary, personal consultation(s) with qualified health or medical professionals to meet your individual health or medical needs. Remember that what's right or has worked for one person may not be what's right for you.

My GP told me H1N1 shots go out as follows:
1-Pregnant people
2-People who work with or live with babies under 6 months old
3-Children and young adults up to the age of 24
4-Health care professionals
5-People with cronic health conditions
6-People 25 to 65
7-People over 65.....
As of right now, until mid November, regular flu shots are unavailable.(In Upstate N.Y.)
We're all #5's here so we'll have to see how supplies go.

The swine flu vaccine is available for free accross australia .... I saw a GP tonight (just a random one, not a regular) to get a repeat prescription and he said I should be getting the swine flu vaccine because immuno-compromised people are high-priority.

I said I would think about it.

I would like to ask my gastro first, and take his advice.

Is it still not available in the US? That seems strange to me!

The Flu mist type is what is available for the swine flu in the US right now. I believe (hopefully) we'll start seeing the injectable (non-live virus) type the week of Oct 19 (next week) . . . at least this is what the local shot nurse location told us. Also, they definitely provide the shot to people with underlying chronic health conditions, including crohn's and immunosuppression.

I wouldn't mind getting the vaccine as well . . . but there's nothing wrong with me, so I am only a candidate for the flu mist variety until the shots become widely available to all. From what I read, it's best not to not take the flu mist, if you have someone living with you who is immunosuppressed . . . so I guess I have to ask the doc/nurse what is right for me. I am really not so worried about me . . . I just don't want to do anything that'll hurt my husband. I've had the flu before and recovered . . . it's not pleasant, but it probably won't kill me either. But I am worried that if I do nothing, I'll bring home the swine flu, and the flu mist doesn't sound like the right option either. I guess I'll ask the doc, and see what they tell me . . . maybe they'll just give me the injection as well?

What is your family doing for the swine flu? I'd imagine there are more people in a situation similar to mine . . . trying to figure out whether to get the flu mist (they recommend not taking care of immunocompromised people for a week after getting the flu mist), or take a chance and bring home the swine flu proper.

PV

One of my husband's coworkers has been diagnosed with H1N1! He's recovering, but it is a scary place out there right now, especially for people who have underlying health conditions. The H1N1 virus seems very prevalent in my husband's work place right now. Thankfully my husband has a job where he can work from home pretty much - so he's just going to work from home until he can get vaccinated and build antibodies to it.

In the meantime, I don't want to bring H1N1 home to my husband. So, I just went and got my flumist H1N1 vaccination. I read on the CDC website that it should be safe for house hold members to take (they recommend not taking it only if you're going to be around seriously immunocompromised people like who just underwent stem cell transplant and are in the clean ward of a hospital, and actually recommend taking it if you are going to be around high risk groups like people taking steroids, etc.)

So for now, I prepared the guest room, and I'll be sleeping in it for a while to minimize the risk of passing on the weak H1N1 vaccine virus. So, if you have family members who are on the fence about the flumist H1N1 virus, I recommend them getting it so they can protect you from it. Here's the link to the CDC FluMist page:
www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/nasalspray.htm

PV

I get remi tomorrow and then the flu shot on Friday and then the swine flue shot next week.

I talked to my doc yesterday and he said that it is a must to get the flue shot and swine flue shot for CD remicade people

Yeah, it is kinda scary how prevalent H1N1 is right now. That's why I decided to go ahead and get the flu mist (my husband is the one with Crohn's disease and on Remicade). He's going to work from home until he gets the shot. But given how prevalent it is in the workplace right now, I decided to go ahead and get the flumist shot for myself (I'm healthy), since I can't work from home all the time, and also because the CDC says that I can get one even though I live in the same house hold as an immunosuppressed person. They only tell people who are going to be around clean room patients to not take the flumist.

Perhaps one of the things that you can do to protect yourself, and to minimize your vectors of infection is to get the people in your house who are healthy to go get the flumist vaccine. Just be sure to take necessary precautions for a week after getting the flumist to ensure that there is no transmission of the modified vaccine virus (the CDC says that chance of transmission of the modified vaccine virus is 0.6 - 2.4%.

That's the choice that I have made after talking to his doctors, and reading for myself online. What are your family members going to do? It's been about 7 hours since I got my flumist vaccine, and I have a slightly sore throat, but other than that I am ok. We're just going to for a week avoid close contact for a week - I have my spare bedroom all set up for me (we shouldn't need to do this, but I am being extra paranoid).

Be safe people - they don't expect the injectable virus for use until the end of the month, if then. Lots of handwashing, and work from home if at all possible. I recommend family members getting the flu mist vaccine if it's available - but of course that's your choice. Also, for those of you avoiding the flu shot because of thermasil - I understand that people with Crohn's should not get the flumist, but if you are a caregiver for someone with Crohn's, you can get the flumist which doesn't have thermasil.

PV

PV

PV, I am in your situation (husband has Crohn's and is on Humira, I am healthy), and I am planning to do what you did. I don't currently have a doctor, though, and I don't reckon pharmacies like CVS are going to be dispensing the vaccine. Did you just go to your PCP?

My husband also got the pneumo vax this week for the reasons you cited. A full third of the 77 fatal H1N1 cases the CDC recently evaluated had bacterial co-infections, and 10 by S. pneumococcus (pneumonia).(here's the report.) As you said, one less thing to worry about should he pick up the flu. I wish my husband could work from home, but at least his office is pretty small.

I'm glad to find other people (especially immunocompromised people) taking this whole thing seriously. If someone doesn't have a healthy respect for a highly contagious virus that kills healthy young adults before their families know what is happening, I don't know what to say to them.

I took the regular flu shot on Oct 1st at my G.I office.

I'm going to get the swine flu shot as soon as it becomes available here.

Not taking any chances.

I had the regular flu shot about a month ago. I'm too old (70) for the H1N1 profile but am on Pred (2 1/2mg), Imuran (200mg) and Humira (40mg E-O-Wk). My son-in-law had H1N1 and so did a grandson in this same town but different house. I stayed away. Now we are scheduled to fly home on 10/28 and there is no vaccine available so all I can do is wear a mask during that flight and hope for the best. Reservations were made 8 months ago. Home is in Florida and we are in Nebraska, 1,600 miles away. My wife has sugested we drive.
Bummer.
Dave D.