1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Polymyalgia Rheumatica and GCA

Yellow fever and malaria vaccinations

Posted , 6 users are following.

richard07199
richard07199

Good afternoon PMR sufferers and prednisone users. (It’s afternoon here in Arizona).  I am planning a trip in the near future which requires a malaria vaccine and recommends a yellow fever vaccination.  

Are there any any problems for me with these shots as a PMR patient who is taking prednisone (currently 10.0mg per day)?

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH richard07199

    Posted

    It is a live attenuated vaccine - and they are usually not recommended for patients on immunosuppressants.

    https://www.iamat.org/risks/yellow-fever?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_7HdBRDPARIsAN_ltcJ9aQDPtscHDkqZCX7eb6x0DsWbNRO1h4R9DQY7oAFpAIfhlQNjIz0aAv_2EALw_wcB

    Some are regarded as OK for patients on low doses, defined usually as under 10mg, but it does vary from vaccine to vaccine.

    This is a realtively small study that suggests there isn't a problem:

    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/acr.22021

    But you will have to check with experts - and that doesn't mean your GP! An infectious diseases hospital/centre would be better.

    • richard07199
      richard07199 EileenH

      Posted

      I just re-read my travel documents and now understand more clearly what is needed. A yellow fever vaccine is [u]required[/u] and malaria prophylaxis is [u]recommended[/u]. I guess the malaria calls for preventive medication, not a vaccination.  

      Whatever, Eileen, your recommendation, as always, is a good one that I take seriously.  My next task is to find an infectious disease center.  I don’t imagine they would be in the telephone book under “Infectious Disease Centers.”

       

    • EileenH
      EileenH richard07199

      Posted

      They might be in google under infectious disease centres wink

      That's how I found the big one in London - working on the basis, if they didn't know, no-one would...

    • EileenH
      EileenH richard07199

      Posted

      Someone has just asked a similar question over on the HU forum. She contacted her rheumatologist, Dr Rod Hughes (who most of us think is the bees knees) and he says yellow fever and pred are fine. So is malaria prophylaxis - which it should be as they use an old antimalarial drug as a so-called steroid sparer sometimes.
    • richard07199
      richard07199 EileenH

      Posted

      Just the fact that I am on a powerful immunosuppressant drug while being told by the travel company that I must have a live yellow fever virus injection, makes the whole thing a little dodgy in my opinion.  I’m not emotionally committed to this trip to the tropics, and, discretion being the better part of valor, I am going to cancel it.  (Don’t let my travel agent know, I haven’t told her yet.)
    • EileenH
      EileenH richard07199

      Posted

      Shame, but they do say discretion is the better part of valour!!! Patience...
  • lynda65751m
    lynda65751m richard07199

    Posted

    Hi Richard

     l have read that the yellow fever vaccination is ‘live’ and therefore should not be given to immunocompromised persons.

    ://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/chapter3.pdf

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.