what about vaccinations?
I've always been a little leery about vaccinating our children, but have never found enough info. on it to NOT get them done. However, I am wondering how they could, if at all, affect Erika now that she has uveitis- being an auto immune disease and all.
Dr Foster recommends that we get our shots and to keep them up to date. when on immunomodulatory therapy, one must make sure that it is NOT A LIVE virus (the nasal vaccine for the Flu is a live virus for example). it is allot easier to contract a virus, bacteria etc while the immune system is suppressed (this includes while on steroids as they suppress the immune system). consultation with your child's pediatrician as to which vaccines are required should be done prior to starting IMT. lots of things appear in a school setting. get your child in the habit of carrying a hand sanitizer and using it frequently and avoiding kids who are sick if at all possible. family members should also keep their vaccinations up to date too to help protect the kids on immunomodulation from contracting the flu etc. it is amazing how many kids DON't get their vaccinations for things like measles, mumps, chicken pox and whooping cough with outbreaks every year around our countries.
Vaccinations can stir up sites of previous inflammation and have done so to Tara's Uveitis.
We do get Tara vaccinated, but we are selective, chosing only those that protect her from the things that are worse than the Uveitis that they might stir up.
Before we had Tara's Hep A done we asked each doctor on her team if we should have it done and they all said "oh yes". Within a week it stirred up her eyes AND necessecitad going off MTX (because of the liver enzyme reaction to the Hep A vaccine). All those same doctors then said "oh yes, that could happen". If I had known it would trigger 2 more years of Uveitis treatments, I wouldn't have done it, however, I am happy that she is now protected from Hep A. So take your pick!
As Mike indicated, best to work with Erika's doctor(s) on this, and also practice his other suggested modes of prevention!
Flu shot
Tara doesn't get the flu shot, but that is my balance of risks. Tara isn't on MTX or any immune system surpressing meds any more so it doesn't matter to me if she gets the flu.
I have been meaning to email you. I have been busy this week as Rosanna got the H1N1 Oct 23rd before vaccines came out. She was put on Tamiflu for 5 days and recovered very well. I posted her symptoms and what happened. I would of not given her vaccination personally. If she got it as she did they would put her on antiviral. So I would perfer for her to get it...but thats just me because Rosanna is effected by vaccines and it stirs her immune.
She is immune with H1N1 now for life like chicken pox. Still on Metharaxte ( 6years) but getting off slowly this year.
We had eye appt. Friday...eyes quiet still and bloodwork excellent. Ron got it...he is not bouncing back as well as Rosanna, but took week off work. My other 2 girls never got it after 10 days too and I think I got something mild. But mom's can't get sick??? YOU KNOW.. I can't call sick days in.
She was considered the healthy 13 year that gets it quickly just like the boy in Toronto...same symptoms. After that they are treating kids quickly in this age group which is high risk. Rosanna's whole junior high is half missing since she was effected. We don't know where she got it...but she was in volleyball tournament and hockey...so in alot of sweaty places and its hard to keep hands clean all the time.
How is Tara's/Derek schools doing and everyone's elses on this site?
I don't think schools prepared properly.
Talk to you soon.
Saletta Edited by: Saletta Hindemith at: 11/1/09 10:09 am
Topic Commands
Click to receive email notification of replies 
Click to stop receiving email notification of replies