Can we be vaccined?

Hello everyone, I'm new here! I'm so happy I've discovered this website, I hope it (and all of you) will help me. My name's Rachele and I'm a 20, I'm from Italy and I've got platelet disorder twice, when I was younger. In few words, in 2003 when I was 7 I was hospidalized because I had 6000 platelets, and I was cured with immunoglobulins and cortisone in a Rome hospital called "Bambin Gesù". Then, at 10 (in 2007), I was again hospitalized with 21000 platelets. Now all the numbers and the values are ok, even if my veins are not very strong (everytime I play voleyball my arms are full of petechiae!), but still no one can tell me why and how I've had this disorder. So, since 2003, I cannot take any anti-inflammatory and make vaccines. I'm here hoping there's someone between you who has had a similar problem but knows if it's possible to be vaccined whitout the risk that the disorder comes back again (since we don't know why I've had it, the doctors said to me it's better to avoid vaccines because they can provoke a platelets break down or a autoimmune answer...). I'm so hopefull someone here can tell me something good! Thanks for the reading and good evening everyone!
-Rachele

Rachele - Vaccines are known to trigger ITP, so it's a benefit vs risk thing. Which vaccine do you think you need? A healthy 20 year old should be fine without them. I'm assuming you've already had your childhood vaccines.

Of course when I was a baby my parents gave me all the compulsory vaccines (in Italy are compulsory in certain ages!), but since at 7 years-old I've had platelet disorder, I've no more done any vaccine and I really, really, want to know if a day I could do some of them since I'm studying social psychology thinking about going in Africa and other countries in which you can enter only if you've got some specific vaccines. So... at 20 I'm still searching for an answer, if there is. Thank you again!

Hello all,

I actually have a very similar question to Rachele's.

I was diagnosed with ITP a couple of years ago, not been vaccinated since then.
Since I am now applying for a visa for international travel and come from a country with high prevalence of polio, I need to get the Polio vaccine. Unfortunately the only ones available at the authorized government hospitals are OPVs

Is it safe for me to get an active vaccine of the OPV given that I have ITP?

Answer to both of you:
No one can personally guarantee the safety of vaccines for you. Thrombocytopenia is a listed side effect for many vaccines. If it is listed, that does not mean that you will have a problem with counts dropping. If it is not listed, that doesn't mean that you won't have a problem with counts dropping. I have posted a few vaccines with thrombocytopenia as a listed side effect:

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine:
Additional adverse events reported following postmarketing use of
INFANRIX, for which a causal relationship to vaccination is plausible, are: Allergic reactions, including anaphylactoid reactions, anaphylaxis, angioedema, and urticaria; apnea; collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode); convulsions (with or without fever);
lymphadenopathy ; and thrombocytopenia.
www.gsksource.com/pharma/content/dam/GlaxoSmithKline/US/en/Prescribing_Information/Kinrix/pdf/KINRIX.PDF

Hepatitis B Vaccine
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders
Increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate; thrombocytopenia
www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/r/recombivax_hb/recombivax_pi.pdf

Yellow Fever Vaccine
In the majority of cases reported, the onset of signs and symptoms was within 10 days after the vaccination. Initial signs
and symptoms are non-specific and may include pyrexia, myalgia, fatigue and headache,
potentially progressing quickly to liver and muscle cytolysis and possibly to thrombocytopenia,
lymphopenia and acute renal failure.
www.vaccineshoppe.com/image.cfm?doc_id=13708&image_type=product_pdf


Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live
Thrombocytopenia
Individuals with current thrombocytopenia may develop more severe thrombocytopenia following vaccination.
In addition, individuals who experienced thrombocytopenia with the first dose of M-M-RII (or its component vaccines) may develop
thrombocytopenia with repeat doses. Serologic status may be evaluated to determine whether or not additional doses of vaccine are needed. The potential risk to benefit ratio should be carefully evaluated before considering vaccination in such cases.
www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/m/mmr_ii/mmr_ii_pi.pdf

This is a list of most vaccines and the package inserts with adverse effects:

www.vaccinesafety.edu/package_inserts.htm


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Rachele, if I were in remission, no one could pay me enough money to take the risk you describe. Life is too short. Just my opinion.

It's a matter of personal choice . No medication is without risk. One has to weigh up the pros and cons according to one's own circumstances and the risks associated with contracting the actual disease against having the vaccine. Vaccines can cause or exacerbate ITP but then so can many other things such as the common cold.

Grazie a tutti (thank you all)! Every single advice is very precious since there's not an omnipotent and unique answer. Here in Italy it's 12 am o'clock, so have a nice day!

Rachele, I had a vaccination in 2010 which defininitely caused me to have I.T.P. I was very healthy prior to the vaccine. Under no condition would I personally consider another vaccine.
It might be helpful if you Google vaccine injuries so you can make a better decision as to the risk involved, especially since you have had problems with low platelets.

I have been getting the flu shot for several years now with no issue. Being spleenless, I won't take a chance on getting it. I also had the pneumonia shot a few months ago.
Recently, there has been an outbreak of the mumps in some of our Western Provinces and it seems to be moving East. I'm pretty sure I had that shot as a child, but I think getting the shot again is something I will mention to my doctor the next time we go. That is the only childhood disease I have never had.
It is a personal decision.

I was told by hemo to get my flu shot, but to wait until 8 months after finishing Rituxan to get my updated tetanus/diptheria which was due in January.