Given that UC is an autoimmune disease, are there any risks for jpouchers to get the hpv vaccine? I'm just wondering if the vaccine would cause an autoimmune response and cause more problems for my daughter. Jan? Anyone know anything about this? I've tried to do some research, but can't really find anything.

The rule of thumb for those who are immune compromised (and that does not mean anyone with IBD- only those taking immune modulators/suppressants):

Vaccines are fine as long as they are dead virus. Most vaccines do not contain live viruses and are fine. The flu-mist nasal spray flu vaccine contains weakened live virus and should not be used in the immune compromised. Another consideration is specific allergy.

If you are very ill, you should wait on most vaccinations until you are improved.

Here is a link from the CDC with guidelines for most vaccines and cautions.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/should-not-vacc.htm

and a link to a chart of contraindications:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/vac-admin/contraindications-vacc.htm

Jan

I'm a J-poucher and I got the vaccine and didn't notice any side effects whatsoever.
And interestly enough, my doctor said she noticed that more women with UC and/or Crohns seemed to get the HPV virus more so than other woman she's treated. Yeah us!

My daughter, who has a jpouch, has had the vaccine, and did not have any problems with it. I definitely think the benefits of this vaccine outweigh the risks.

ConnieDenise

Thank you all! And thanks for those links Jan-appreciate your input so much!

Just my opinion...I wouldn't get this vaccine. It's too new. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to get most any vaccine.

Not to be argumentative, but people who don't get vaccines or refuse to vaccinate their children actually increase the risk for the rest of us. Vaccines are not 100% effective and are based on large populations being innoculated. Now that more and more parents have refused to vaccinate their children, there have been outbreaks of measles, mumps, and meningitis that have been devastating to the affected families. Vaccines are extensively tested prior to widespread use and I think that most of the media attention has been about unfounded claims that never prove to be true. Small pox has been completely irradicated from the globe through vaccination and polio is close. My sister-in-law nearly died as a child from mumps encephalitis. Most of us have never had to deal with such things, thanks to vaccines.

http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/iso/general_info/overview.htm

Obviously, there are some who should not vaccinate or should wait, but that is why there are guidelines.

Frankly, I wish I was young enough for the HPV vaccine. I would love not to have to consider that risk of cervical cancer in my future.

Jan

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jan Dollar,

I wasn't referring to children. Obviously there is a place for vaccination. I'm speaking solely for myself.
For example.... I just had all of my titers drawn and every single one came back fine. However, I have talked to a couple of the girls in my program who just went ahead and re-vaccinated without even having titers drawn! I think that is very irresponsible of their physicians.
As for the HPV......considering that I have an auto-immune disease, you can bet your bottom dollar I wouldn't be getting that anytime soon (I'm too old anyhow). Even if I had a young daughter, I wouldn't do it....yet.

There are some great books out there all about vaccines, written by doctors. In my case, my physician suggested that I get a tetanus booster. I read about it and the guidelines state that those who are on cancer therapy or immune drugs should be off of them for a month before getting the vaccine.
People have to educate themselves these days and not be led blindly. Again, just my opinion.

Oh, OK. That makes perfect sense. I thought you were making a blanket statement about all vaccines. I am not sure that having vaccine boosters without titers is irresponsible, since they generally go by how long immunity lasts on average to determine if it is time for a booster. In most cases, there is very minimal risk and testing for titers in everyone is not very cost effective. But, if your tetanus antibody titers are fine, there is no need to vaccinate.

I also thought that the reason you should be off your cancer or immune modulating drugs before having the tetanus booster is not because of an increased risk for you, but because there may be a reduced effectiveness of the vaccine. With Humira, specifically, it is quite safe to vaccinate, as long as it is not live virus. Actually, because I was taking Humira, I was even more motivated to be better immunized (since it is considered an immune compromising drug). I had both the pneumovax and a tetanus booster last fall with my flu vaccine.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/2005ACRMeeting/tb/4531

Jan

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jan Dollar,

Well, see, I think it is better to draw titers than run any risk of a vaccination side effect or unintended consequence without a real good reason. No matter how much money it costs.
I did not test for a tetanus titer. When my doctor wrote the order, she stated that she felt I needed the tetanus no matter what. After I did a little research, I became worried about it. I still have not decided one way or another. But, I'm on 6MP too.

I do admit that I'm not real fond of vaccines. That is why I think it's a good idea to know exactly WHAT you're getting and WHY you're getting it. It started mostly with our dogs. I refuse to ever vaccinate them again unless there is some sort of major outbreak or life-threatening risk..... Our youngest dog had a seizure about 2 weeks after her 1 yr. rabies, (and has not had another seizure since!) and our other dog, who about 2 months after getting his 4 yr rabies started showing signs of discoid lupus, an auto-immune disease. It's related, no doubt about it. And no vet is going to tell me otherwise, I can guarantee that!
Seeing it first-hand like that, those "unintended consequences" and reactions....it makes you think. Even if they are dogs, not humans. I do titer my dogs from time to time but even if their immunity is low, I will likely not vaccinate. They are inside 98% of the time so I feel the risk of them ever contracting "something" is lower than them having yet another reaction, something that could be fatal next time.
It's a personal decision for sure and I would rather be cautious

I can't speak to what was going on with your dogs, but statistically, the risk of serious illness or death from any of the diseases we have vaccines for is far greater than any similar risk from the vaccine. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/6mishome.htm

Of course, an informed choice is fine, but if you intend to work in the medical field, you should know that you place yourself in a higher risk category for being exposed to communicable disease and can also become a carrier.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00050577.htm
It's too bad that we even have to think these things through. It would be nice if all these diseases were globally irradicated.

One thing we certainly agree on is that questioning is always a good thing and it is just plain smart to be well informed.

Jan

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jan Dollar,

I totally agree with you Jan! For "normal" people, you know those who can eat whatever they want, smoke a pack a day, drink like a fish and live to 100, they don't have to think about "stuff" like this......wouldn't that be nice?! But, you betcha I'm going to be very cautious about decisions I make when it comes to my health. And certainly, working with ill people, I do have to be extra cautious. I'm guessing it's a double-edged sword I'm playing with here....but I just have to be careful and use common sense.

Jan and Shelby,

Thank you both for your informed volleys...they gave me alot to think about and read. My daughter and I have talked about this and have read all the info out there on HPV. Ultimately, it was her body and her decision and am happy to say that she has decided to protect herself and got the vaccine. I am happy that she had taken the steps to ask questions, read the information and take charge of her health!

I'm sure she'll be fine. It's good that you guys thought ahead to ask the right questions to make an informed decision.

Jan

I too am also too old for the vaccine, but if I was'nt I would have it.
I actually did a research paper about this vaccine for a recent college paper.

For me it is like the choice to get a pouch versus continuing to live with UC.

HPV vaccine immunizes against 2 of the major strains of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. The 2 it tries to protect from are at the very top of the list that for being linked to cervical cancer. If I could protect myself or my daughter from such a devastating cancer I would.

the reason for sugggesting the HPV at such a young age is to try to protect the girls prior to them becoming sexually active. Because it is sad to say but anyone who has had sex has problably been exposed to some variant of HPV. HPV--human papilloma virus actually causes warts on the skin, genital warts (one of th 2 vaccines available also protects against 2 strains of genital wart causing viruses-the other protect just against the 2 major strains linked to cervical cancer)

I work in a hospial and do get the flu shot every year. For me this is a personal choice, because I feel if I can hopefully prevent myself from getting the flu,I am actually helping to protect my patients to some point.

But I also would not get a vaccination without having a titer run. The main reason is that the only vaccine I received as a child was for the german measles. But I was exposed to and had all of the others-measlses, mumps, chicken pox. I wouldn't think an employer would just have someone get the vaccines without checking the titers first. I had to get the Hep B for work at one job and when I changed jobs my next employer just checked all of my titers.

sorry if I blabbed on but just wanted to try to pass on some of the things I have learned,

Beth