immunizations
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
immunizations
Does anyone know if getting the shingles or pneumonia vaccines would or could be problematic?
I'm not familiar enough with those vaccines to remember whether or not they are based on egg cultures, but if they are, they can be risky for anyone who is sensitive to eggs and/or who is currently experiencing mast cell issues. IOW, under certain conditions, such vaccines can trigger an anaphylactic reaction due to a mast cell chain reaction. We have several members who have had such reactions to the flu vaccine for example, and since having that vaccine, they now have to deal with the symptoms of systemic mastocytosis, or some less extensive form of mastocytosis.
Most experts claim that an egg sensitivity should not cause any serious issues for someone getting vaccines based on egg cultures. But good luck trying to convince the people who have had those reactions to the vaccines. So much for expert opinion.
That said, I pass on the shingles vaccine, but I try to keep my pneumonia vaccinations current, due to preexisting breathing issues.
Here's what the CDC says about those vaccines:
Tex
Most experts claim that an egg sensitivity should not cause any serious issues for someone getting vaccines based on egg cultures. But good luck trying to convince the people who have had those reactions to the vaccines. So much for expert opinion.
That said, I pass on the shingles vaccine, but I try to keep my pneumonia vaccinations current, due to preexisting breathing issues.
Here's what the CDC says about those vaccines:
Shingles (Herpes Zoster) vaccine
Some people should not get shingles vaccine or should wait.
A person should not get shingles vaccine who:
has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of shingles vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
has a weakened immune system because of current:
AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system,
treatment with drugs that affect the immune system, such as prolonged use of high-dose steroids,
cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy,
cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, such as leukemia or lymphoma.
is pregnant, or might be pregnant. Women should not become pregnant until at least 4 weeks after getting shingles vaccines.
Someone with a minor acute illness, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. But anyone with a moderate or severe acute illness should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101.3° F or higher.
I have a hunch that both these vaccines are much safer for MC patients than the flu vaccine, but that's just my strictly unprofessional impression.PCV13 (Pneumococcal Conjugate) vaccine
Some people should not get PCV13 or should wait.
Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a dose of this vaccine, to an early pneumococcal vaccine called PCV7 (or Prevnar), or to any vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid (for example, DTaP) should not get PCV13.
Anyone with a severe allergy to any component of PCV13 should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if the person being vaccinated has any severe allergies.
If the person scheduled for vaccination is sick, your doctor might decide to reschedule the shot on another day.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
This should answer your question: Here is a chart showing the ingredients of vaccines:
Vaccine Ingredients and Manufacturer Information
IOW, check out vaccines numbers 20 and 31
They appear to be free of eggs, so they should be safe. While the pneumonia vaccine is cultured in a soy medium, it shouldn't create an anaphylactic risk the way that eggs can. Likewise, the shingles vaccine contains pork and beef ingredients, but those are not likely to cause any major problems for someone who might be sensitive to pork or beef.
Tex
Vaccine Ingredients and Manufacturer Information
IOW, check out vaccines numbers 20 and 31
They appear to be free of eggs, so they should be safe. While the pneumonia vaccine is cultured in a soy medium, it shouldn't create an anaphylactic risk the way that eggs can. Likewise, the shingles vaccine contains pork and beef ingredients, but those are not likely to cause any major problems for someone who might be sensitive to pork or beef.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
FWIW, I just got back from a routine appointment with my PCP and while I was there the doctor's assistant mentioned that according to my records I was due for tetnus and pneumonia vaccines, so she gave me a Tdap (tetnus, diptheria, and pertussus [whooping cough]) vaccine, and another for pneumonia.
So far, so good.
Tex
So far, so good.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I've seen Dr. Mercola frequently write about vaccines. I recall this article about the Pneumonia vaccine and the UK. I saw there were several other articles on pneumonia to look at if interested.
I didn't look but likely there are a few write ups on shingles too.
"UK Scraps Pneumonia Vaccines Because They 'Don't Work'"
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... -work.aspx
I didn't look but likely there are a few write ups on shingles too.
"UK Scraps Pneumonia Vaccines Because They 'Don't Work'"
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... -work.aspx
Yep, that's right on target because as we get older, our immune system doesn't usually muster enough of a response to build up a decent immunity. I got the shot anyway though, because my brother-in-law is recovering from pneumonia right now, and the PA who gave me the shot said that she had pneumonia herself, a few weeks ago. 
I wasn't aware of the differences in infant mortality rates in various countries, and how they appear to be inversely correlated with vaccinations. Those statistics suggest that we might be killing babies with kindness in this country. That would be a heck of a note, to say the least.
I wonder if those statistics are accurate.
Tex
I wasn't aware of the differences in infant mortality rates in various countries, and how they appear to be inversely correlated with vaccinations. Those statistics suggest that we might be killing babies with kindness in this country. That would be a heck of a note, to say the least.
I wonder if those statistics are accurate.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex,
Good question. I wish I knew if it was true. Anymore with so much in medicine it seems to come down to who do you believe. With immunity and disease prevention vaccines tends to be the agreed upon method to rid society of disease, that everyone knows is true. Most will say that there can be down sides to vaccines, but adverse reactions are rare. Others disagree and give a case that there are greater health problems seen with them. I guess maybe there is a parallel that can be seen with the more commonly discussed antibiotics on your sight. It is said that Flemings discovery of penicillin captured the publics imagination and changed how medicine is practiced in the west still seen to this day. Today antibiotics are used in many different fields. With people courses of antibiotics are also taken a couple times a year on average. (I believe reading that being the case.) Most will say that antibiotics are wonder medications, that can in rare circumstances can cause severe reactions. Typically thought the worst problems antibiotics cause are slight stomach aches that go away in a few days. Others disagree and will argue wide spread antibiotic use is often un-beneficial and has led to the rise of super bugs, increasing serious IBD conditions, increased rates of cancer, heart disease, contributed to greater obesity rates, and the rise of autoimmune diseases. It's hard to say which side is right. Anyway! bit of a ramble this early morning, with thunderstorms waking me up, with likely little new ground being covered.
Good question. I wish I knew if it was true. Anymore with so much in medicine it seems to come down to who do you believe. With immunity and disease prevention vaccines tends to be the agreed upon method to rid society of disease, that everyone knows is true. Most will say that there can be down sides to vaccines, but adverse reactions are rare. Others disagree and give a case that there are greater health problems seen with them. I guess maybe there is a parallel that can be seen with the more commonly discussed antibiotics on your sight. It is said that Flemings discovery of penicillin captured the publics imagination and changed how medicine is practiced in the west still seen to this day. Today antibiotics are used in many different fields. With people courses of antibiotics are also taken a couple times a year on average. (I believe reading that being the case.) Most will say that antibiotics are wonder medications, that can in rare circumstances can cause severe reactions. Typically thought the worst problems antibiotics cause are slight stomach aches that go away in a few days. Others disagree and will argue wide spread antibiotic use is often un-beneficial and has led to the rise of super bugs, increasing serious IBD conditions, increased rates of cancer, heart disease, contributed to greater obesity rates, and the rise of autoimmune diseases. It's hard to say which side is right. Anyway! bit of a ramble this early morning, with thunderstorms waking me up, with likely little new ground being covered.
Nancy,
If you have Medicare, Part B covers certain immunizations, including the pneumonia vaccine.
If you have Part D coverage, it covers all commercially available vaccines that are not covered by Part B, as long as the vaccine is reasonable and necessary to prevent illness. So Part D would cover the shingles vaccine.
Tex
If you have Medicare, Part B covers certain immunizations, including the pneumonia vaccine.
If you have Part D coverage, it covers all commercially available vaccines that are not covered by Part B, as long as the vaccine is reasonable and necessary to prevent illness. So Part D would cover the shingles vaccine.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.