My 10yr old son normally gets the flu vaccine every year which is fine. But this year I am on Tysabri, which lowers your immune system, so Im wondering if its safe for him to bring it home as, although weakened, it is a live virus. Personally, I would rather he got it so hes protected but my husband is of the opinion that out of the 2 of us my son would be able to fight the flu better than me. I think hes just worried as hes just watched me fight a chest infection for 3 weeks that I contracted the night of my last tysabri infusion that took 2 lots of antibiotics and 1 lot of steroids to shift! Thoughts anyone?? Steff
I have been on Tysabri for a few years now and I have a flu injection every year at the recommendation of my Neuro, GP and MS nurse. Everyone with MS should be offered a free flu jab. I think you are worrying about the wrong thing here - you face a much more REAL risk from contracting flu than from your son’s innoculation. If your son is in an at-risk group himself he is at increased risk if others closely around him get flu even if he’s had his. Speak to your MS team.
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Hi Steff,
Are you sure the flu jab is live? the nurse told me it wasn’t???
I’m on Tecfidera not Tysabri. I have a 12 year old who has asthma and has the jab every year and i have it as well.
One year i missed my jab because i was unwell and missed the last flu clinic. I caught the flu and i was really unwell for ages afterwards. I will never miss one again!!!
I personally think the benefits of having the jab for both of you far outweigh not having it.
take care.x
Teresa.
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p.s.
i have just googled it and,nhs choices says it is not a live vaccine…so you can’t catch flu from your son if he has the jab.
To have it yourself is your own choice but as you seem run down with infections i would think you are high risk of catching the flu which might make you very ill. Speak to your nurse but from personal experience i would recommend you both get the jab.
best wishes
Teresa.x
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I do not know, but would guess that the attenuated live vaccine used in the nasal spray for a child would only be potentially problematical for a child with a compromised immune system - not to those around him - and your son is healthy so that is not an issue.
One thing does seem clear - a non-immunised child who catches 'flu is surely highly likely to give it to the parents looking after him! And the non-live vaccine that adults get as a shot is less effective than the nasal spray for children, so even getting innoculated yourself still leaves you very open to risk of catching flu from someone else in the household who has it.
In short, I think getting the whole household vaccinated is probably the best bet for all of us!
Alison