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Is Pneumonia Vaccination Advisable When Allergic To Latex?
Question: I am a 79 year old woman who had GBS in 2012. My muscles are not back to normal yet. Last year I had pneumonia 2 times. Can I safely get a pneumonia shot? One more note - several years ago I had a skin reaction to latex, and I have been told that the 'super' pneumonia shot has latex in it. So, can I safely get some kind of pneumonia shot, and if so, what kind? Many, many thanks for your help.
Brief Answer:
if it's the vaccine, it's probably safe, please read for the details
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
you've got to understand that there are pros and cons regarding vaccination. Having had Guillain-Barre syndrome in not great news because vaccination may be associated with it but according to my knowledge there is no conclusive data. The SPC of prevenar (which is the recommended vaccine for streptococcus pneumoniae) does not include any contraindication for Guillain-Barre syndrome. One dose of prevenar has to be done first and another dose of the other type of vaccine has to be done one year later.
Regarding latex, according to this resource (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/Pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/latex-table.pdf) there is no latex but you and your doctor should check the package before using the vaccine. For minor allergic reactions, there is no serious reason to avoid vaccination. Serious allergic reaction is a contraindication though.
So in conclusion, using the vaccine is probably safe but now you're also informed of the potential risks or - to be more accurate - the risks that relate to the data you've provided. Vaccination against streptococcus pneumoniae is recommended to the general population to reduce the incidence of serious infections like pneumonia and meningitis. Certain subgroups may be exposed to more risks than the general population, so an informed decision has to be made.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Please contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
if it's the vaccine, it's probably safe, please read for the details
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
you've got to understand that there are pros and cons regarding vaccination. Having had Guillain-Barre syndrome in not great news because vaccination may be associated with it but according to my knowledge there is no conclusive data. The SPC of prevenar (which is the recommended vaccine for streptococcus pneumoniae) does not include any contraindication for Guillain-Barre syndrome. One dose of prevenar has to be done first and another dose of the other type of vaccine has to be done one year later.
Regarding latex, according to this resource (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/Pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/latex-table.pdf) there is no latex but you and your doctor should check the package before using the vaccine. For minor allergic reactions, there is no serious reason to avoid vaccination. Serious allergic reaction is a contraindication though.
So in conclusion, using the vaccine is probably safe but now you're also informed of the potential risks or - to be more accurate - the risks that relate to the data you've provided. Vaccination against streptococcus pneumoniae is recommended to the general population to reduce the incidence of serious infections like pneumonia and meningitis. Certain subgroups may be exposed to more risks than the general population, so an informed decision has to be made.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Please contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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