Individuals with an autoimmune disease have a higher risk for flu-related complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration and worsening of their disease. Vaccinations can trigger an autoimmune response, but the potential risk of that happening should be heavily weighed against the risk of flu-related complications and death from H1N1 swine flu or seasonal flu.
Most Common Autoimmune Disorders at Risk
Autoimmune disorders, certain types of arthritis, inflammatory arthritis and rheumatic disease require medications to weaken the immune system. A weakened immune system can put an individual at more of a risk of getting the flu and developing complications from H1N1 or seasonal flu. The autoimmune diseases include but are not limited to the following:
- Anti-phospholipid syndrome
- Dermatomyositis
- Necrotising arteritis
- Polyarteritis nodosa
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Polymyositis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Sarcoidosis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogren's syndrome
- Spondyloarthropathies
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Systemic sclerosis
- Vasculitis
The most common autoimmune disorders in the United States include Graves' disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's disease or thyroiditis, vitiligo, type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia, multiple sclerosis (MS), glomerulonephritis, lupus and Sjogren syndrome. Individuals with autoimmune diseases who contract the flu can experience worsening of the symptoms of their autoimmune disease.
Autoimmune Disease Medication Weakens the Immune System
Medications that are commonly used by patients with autoimmune diseases are powerful and suppress the immune system. A suppressed immune system in individuals with an autoimmune disorder make them more vulnerable to getting the flu. A person taking any medication to suppress their immune system should talk to their doctor about the flu vaccine. Medications that are used in individuals with autoimmune disease include but are not limited to the following:
- Azathioprine – Imuran and Azasan
- Betamethasone – Celestone
- Biological response modifiers – Biologics
- Chlorambucil – Leukeran
- Cortisone Acetate – Cortone
- Cyclcophosphamide – Cytoxan
- Cyclosporine – Sandimmune, Neoral and Gengraf
- Dexamethasone – Decadron and Hexadrol
- DMARDS – disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
- Etanercept – Enbrel
- Gold – Auranofin, Ridaura and Myochrysine
- Hydrocortisone – Cortef and Hydrocortone (does not include Hydrocortisone cream)
- Hydroxychloroquine – Plaquenil
- Infliximab – Remicade
- Leflunomide – Arava
- Methotrexate – Rheumatrex and Trexall
- Methylprednisone – Medrol
- Minocycline – Minocin and Dynacin
- Mycophenolate mofetil – Cellcept
- Prednisolone – Prelone
- Prednisone – Deltasone, Orasone, Prednicin-M, Sterapred
- Rituximab – Rituxan
- Steroids – corticosteroids that are taken by mouth or by i.v.
- Sulfasalazine – Azulfidine
- Tacrolimus – Prograf, FK-506 and Fujimycin
Only The Flu Vaccine Injection is Recommended For Those With an Autoimmune Disease
Patients with an autoimmune disease should receive the vaccine in the injection form and not the nasal spray flu vaccine if they choose to get vaccinated. The FluMist is approved only for individuals who are healthy, according The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC specifies healthy to mean any individual who does not have an underlying medical condition like an autoimmune disease, heart disease and liver or kidney disorders as these individuals are predisposed for flu complications. The FluMist contains the live virus as opposed to the flu shot which has a killed virus or inactivated virus.
Rely on Trusted Websites For Reputable Information on The Flu Vaccine, Risks and Benefits
There are dozens of websites with poor quality and inaccurate information urging individuals to say no to the vaccine for various reasons. The facts are in the public health record, which show vaccines do more good than harm to healthy individuals and those with an illness, disease or disorder. Vaccines reduce mortality rates, eradicate disease and prevent people from experiencing life threatening complications.
Current Flu Statistics on Deaths and Hospitalizations for 2009
The CDC reports the seasonal flu alone will cause 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 flu-related hospitalizations this flu season. The H1N1 Swine Flu has caused 4,958 confirmed hospitalizations and 292 deaths from August 30, 2009 through October 10, 2009.
Any individual with an autoimmune disorder should speak with a physician to weigh the risk and benefit of receiving the flu vaccine as autoimmune disorders are a group of many different diseases. The flu shot can prevent life-threatening complications from the flu in people categorized as high risk because of disease, condition, disease, autoimmune disorder or other chronic ailment. Information on the flu vaccine for high risk categories is available here.
Sources:
Flu.gov. Arthritis and the Flu
Pesheva, E. Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. People with Autoimmune Diseases Should Consult a Doctor Before Flu Shot
