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For those on Remicade - Vaccines?

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Posted 3/16/2016 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
My GI told me at my last appt that I need to get a pneumonia vaccine and possibly a couple others if I haven't already had them (getting blood work to check for Hep A and Hep B).

Has anyone else gotten these and are they necessary?
Posted 3/16/2016 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
I've had a number of doctors and nurses tell me I should get the pneumonia vaccine because of uc and the immunomodulators I'm on.My insure will cover it, haven't done it yet.

Nobody's specifically asked me to get checked for the various heps. New on me. But I could see why.
Posted 3/16/2016 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
When I was on Remicade I got the flu shot as per my doctor but I never received a pneumonia shot. My mom is on Remi for RA and she gets a pneumonia shot. She's high risk though because she's elderly. It's a personal call on your part. I tended to lean toward the dr.'s recommendations while I was on those immunosuppressants.
Posted 3/17/2016 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
I've had all the hep shots and pneumonia shot. No issues.

Edited to add: the hep vacs should be administered if you are a health care worker, military or going/living overseas. The pneumonia shot I would highly recommend because on Remicade it increases our susceptibility of contracting it.
Posted 3/17/2016 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
My infectious disease dr recommended the pneumonia vaccine when I was on remicade, after I got severe pneumonia. I don't think the pneumonia I had would have been prevented, but after that experience, I would say, you definitely want to prevent it or anything similar if you can. I was on remicade and prednisone with methotrexate, so, a lot of immune suppressing things at the same time. I decided to have surgery so I never got the vaccine.
Posted 3/17/2016 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Is the pneumonia vaccine a one time thing or yearly shot like the flu?
Thanks for all the input. I'm not nervous it will cause issues UC wise but I am always skeptical and would like to do what's only necessary and smart. Tired of being on so many drugs...now they add in shots. LOL.
Posted 3/17/2016 7:45 PM (GMT 0)

TotesMagotes said...
Is the pneumonia vaccine a one time thing or yearly shot like the flu?
Thanks for all the input. I'm not nervous it will cause issues UC wise but I am always skeptical and would like to do what's only necessary and smart. Tired of being on so many drugs...now they add in shots. LOL.

I'm fairly certain is a one time thing. (with maybe a booster over time) Not annual like the flu vaccine.
Posted 3/18/2016 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
http://www.webmd.com/vaccines/pneumococcal-vaccine-schedule
Posted 3/18/2016 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
During my last visit my GI mentioned getting the Hep-B vaccine since I'm on a biological. Maybe in the future I'll get it.

I skipped the flu shot this year because I never got around to it.
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