[Stacielee1967]

This may sound like a strange question and an even stranger situation. I got a job as a nurse in an inner city hospital. I was informed that I had no mumps coverage and was told to get the MMR. I have been diagnosed with SLE for some time now and never ever had any problems except a painful joint here or there and only ever treated with Plaquinel. Anyway, less then 4 weeks after getting the MMR I had a flare. It has attacked all the tendons and connective tissues in my feet and knees resulting in giving up my job as a nurse. I am no longer able to work because I can not walk very well, can not sqwat down as I can’t get up and I can’t stand for any period of time over 5 minutes. I have been awarded highest mobility rating and mid. Care for DLA. I also get incapacity benefits. I have applied for the vaccine damage claim but they came back stating I was not immuno-compromised at the time of injection. Had I been on the Methotrexate at the time of injection I would not have been able to have it. I am now on Methotrexate and 16 other medications as what I believe to be the a result of this vaccine. Where can I find information on live vaccines and the contraindications for lupus patients? I have found many articles but they all say lupus patients that are immuno-compromised should not have live virus vaccines. I need this information in order to fight the fact that I was injured as a result of the vaccine. As with most benefits in the UK you have to jump through hoops to get them.

 

[Katharine]

Hello there,

I'm afraid I really can't answer your question as to where you could find that information but I do know that, as a rule, live vaccines are advised against in all lupus patients whether immuno suppressed or not.

I'm sure someone ese will know more. I'm sorry to hear you have had so much trouble following a vaccination.

Katharine

 

[sadieone]

Hi Stacielee,

Even though plaquenil is not an immunosuppressant, a live vaccine can cause a flare. But from my understanding the flare should not be as bad as it could be, if you were not on plaquenil.

Immunosuppressive drugs are Imuran and Cytoxan, Chlorambucil and Methotrexate.
Plaquenil is an antimalarial, so the immune system is not suppressed.
http://www.orthop.washington.edu/uw...76/ItemID__38/PageID__7/Articles/Default.aspx

Good luck

 

[greenhaggis]

Hi Stacielee,

There are also articles on line regarding all autoimmune dieseases and MMR! The advise not to give it! All GPs and especially the nurses that inject with the drug are normally aware of this info.

As I said to you a while back my Mum has MS (auto-immune)and has been told never to have any live vaccines (she is not immuno-compromised as does not take any of the relevant drugs). Alot of live drugs are some of those you would need to have to enter particular countries abroad.

Even the specialist were concerned about given MMR to my son as he had an egg allergy and also had bad reactions to those non-live vaccines like typhoid, polio, tetanus!!! So I imagine all those with allergies and sensitivities should proceed wih caution too!

Was the person who gave you the vaccine aware of your condition - if so I do wonder why they carried on giving it to you!

I hope you find all the answers to help you with your case.

Love and hugs Lesley

 

[Stacielee1967]

Thanks for your information

Lesley,

I have also seen the information about live virus vaccines and auto-immune diseases. However, I can't find anything that says what happens if we have the MMR. I have to find that one piece of evidence that states, patients with auto-immune diseases should not have an MMR because it can set off a flare. That is all I need. The DWP said that I am not entitled to the vaccine damage because I was not immuno - suppressed at the time of vaccination. It sounds silly I know. The first letter I got from them stated they would not consider my claim because I didn’t receive the rubella vaccine. I asked them to justify that when I got the MMR. As I said before, you need to jump through hoops to get any kind of compensation.

Sadie,

Thanks for your input. Funny enough, I found an article by the NCI National Cancer research Institute that actually states hydroxychloroquin (plaquinel) has both antimalarial and immunosuppressive properties. Although they don’t know why but it may suppress the immune functions by interfering with the processing and presentation of antigens and the production of cytokines. So I can use that. If what they say is based on some research someone did, then they can not dispute the fact that this research says this about plaquinel. The funny thing about research, one person says this and another says that, you can use it to dispute or to support your claim. There is always someone out there that doesn’t agree with something. It is a continuous cycle that never seems to end!

Thanks for both of your input!!

Stacie

 

[Clare.T]

Hello Stacie

I'm sorry to say that I have checked all the sources several times over the past few years and now again over the weekend and have never seen a categoric statement that no person with lupus should ever have a live vaccine. In fact the only advice against live vaccines is for groups of people who count as immunosuppressed (or immunocompromised, which seems to me to be rather a vague term.)

As you know, Plaquenil is not classed as an immunosupressant drug because it is not used in transplant or cancer therapy, although it can have a very slight incidental immunosupresssive effect. High doses of Prednisone could be called immunosuppressant, I think, as well as the more obvious drugs.
I think you would have to find a lupus expert to attest that in his experienced opinion you shouldn't have been given it.

The major problem of all suits of this kind seems to be that it is impossible to prove that the disease wouldn't have worsened anyway, that it has been triggered or worsened by any drug or procedure, such as breast implants or minocycline.
I have a vague recollection of hearing quite recently that it has been agreed that Gulf War syndrome was caused by exposure to toxins and certain obligatory vaccinations. Sorry if I misremember, but that might be worth following up.
If a person had consulted their doctor who had advised against but they were obliged to take the risk as a condition of employment, I suppose that might have some weight too.

I am sorry this has happened to you and sorry not to be more helpful and wish you luck.

ps ( You probably know all the above, but I hear that some colleges are demanding that students be vaccinated, so it might serve to raise awareness. When I was applying for US residency some vaccinations/boosters were required but my doctor advised against them, after some thought, except for flu and pneumococc. I was only on low dose Imuran at the time. I can't recall which they were either)

Clare

 

[Clare.T]

I did have an inaccurate memory of a recent news item about Gulf War syndrome. A group of researchers announced that Gulf War syndrome was probably caused by various chemical exposures. It doesn't seem to say anything about vaccinations.

See

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WireStory?id=4424761&page=1

Clare

 

[mysharonna]

Hi Stacilee,

I'm sorry I dont really have any further insight than what has already been said - I just wanted to say I'm so sorry this has happened to you...it brings up a really interesting point for sure.

What about calling your local lupus chapter organization (lupusuk.com) and ask them for guidance? I have contacted the one here in the United States by telephone a time or two and found them quite helpful with questions ( lupus.org ).

Best of luck to you, I hope you find the answers you are looking for.
Sharon