Should patients with MS get the flu shot?

Can I get the flu jab and other vaccinations if I've got MS? For most people with multiple sclerosis (MS) it makes sense to get the protection that vaccines offer, including the seasonal flu jab. If you get ill with flu or another infection it could make MS symptoms worse. It might even trigger a relapse.

Should someone with MS get a flu shot?

2022-2023 Influenza (Flu) vaccine

The AAN recommends that people with MS should receive the annual influenza vaccine unless they have a specific reason they cannot get it. The FluMist® (nasal spray) vaccine is a live influenza vaccine.

What vaccines should people with MS avoid?

Vaccines to Avoid

If you have MS, your doctor may advise you against getting live-virus vaccines such as: Influenza nasal spray (flu vaccine that's sprayed into your nose). Typhoid. Rotavirus.

Which vaccine should people with MS get?

However, because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines over the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, people with MS should select those vaccines if possible.

Should people with MS be vaccinated?

Many people with MS take disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to slow down the progression of their disorder and control their symptoms. DMTs typically work by reducing the body's natural immune response and level of inflammation. Most people who take DMTs to control MS symptoms should still receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Why Do People With Multiple Sclerosis Need to be Careful About Getting a Flu Shot?

Can flu shot cause MS flare?

A: There does not appear to be any evidence that vaccinations cause or precipitate relapses in people known to have MS. A practice advisory from the American Academy of Neurology (Rutschmann et al 2002) found strong evidence against an increased risk of MS exacerbation after influenza immunization.

Are people with MS high risk Covid?

Current evidence shows that simply having MS does not make you more likely than the general population to develop COVID-19, become severely ill or die from the infection. However, certain factors have been shown to increase the risk of a severe case of COVID-19: Progressive MS. Older age.

Can flu cause MS relapse?

For those with multiple sclerosis (MS) or other neurological diseases, the flu may trigger a cascade of immune responses that can result in relapse.

Do people with MS get shingles more often?

Because their immune systems are not working at full strength, people with MS have a greater chance of developing shingles. A 2021 study found that people who had suppressed immune systems from taking DMTs to treat their MS were at increased risk for shingles.

Should people with MS get pneumonia vaccine?

Both pneumococcal vaccines are inactivated and safe for people with MS. According to the AAN recommendations on immunizations for people with MS, pneumococcal vaccine should be considered for individuals with compromised pulmonary function, including those who use a wheelchair on a full-time basis or are bed-bound.

How does MS affect the immune system?

In MS, the immune system becomes confused and attacks the protective myelin coating around our nerves by mistake. If myelin is damaged by the immune system, the nerve can't communicate properly and may eventually die.

Should people with MS boost their immune system?

With multiple sclerosis our immune systems are already in overdrive. That very fact is what contributes to damage in our central nervous systems. When the ramped-up immune system attacks itself and causes lesions in the brain and spinal cord, we do not want to do anything to boost that immune system further.

Is the Covid vaccine recommended for MS patients?

Conclusions. The third dose of COVID-19-BNT162b2 vaccine proved safe for MS patients, with no increased risk of relapse activity. Untreated patients and patients treated with vaccination-safe disease-modifying treatments show significant increase in SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels following the third dose of vaccination.

What causes MS flare ups?

What causes exacerbations? Exacerbations (relapses) are caused by inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). The inflammation damages the myelin, slowing or disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses and causing the symptoms of MS.

Should people with MS get the Shingrix vaccine?

People with MS may be at higher risk of getting shingles because of reduced immune system function due to disease-modifying treatments. High-dose steroids, often used during relapses, may also increase the risk of a shingles outbreak. The Shingrix vaccine does not contain live virus and is safe for you to get.

What is the most common symptom experienced by people living with MS?

Numbness of the face, body, or extremities (arms and legs) is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS.

Do people with MS get sick more often?

In addition to experiencing more intense cold symptoms, a longer recovery time, and increased susceptibility to the cold virus, individuals with MS are also more susceptible to infections.

Do you get sick a lot with MS?

You're more likely to catch a cold or flu virus if you have MS, especially if you take certain medicines that curb your immune system -- your body's defense against germs. And when you get sick with the flu, your MS raises the chances of health problems that may need treatment at your doctor's office or a hospital.

Do MS relapses decrease with age?

Observation of MS patients indicates that relapses also tend to diminish after that age, and that subsequent disease progression may not be immune-mediated, as it tends not to be associated with MRI-detectable inflammatory activity.

What is the average age of death for someone with MS?

The study found that people with MS lived to be 75.9 years old, on average, compared to 83.4 years old for those without. That 7.5-year difference is similar to what other researchers have found recently.

Is multiple sclerosis Hereditary or Genetic?

Causes of multiple sclerosis

your genes – MS isn't directly inherited, but people who are related to someone with the condition are more likely to develop it; the chance of a sibling or child of someone with MS also developing it is estimated to be around 2 to 3 in 100.

Can COVID trigger multiple sclerosis?

Segal says. “Some people with COVID-19 infections experience neurological symptoms that may be secondary to this response. MS is caused by an abnormal immune response targeting the central nervous system. This raised concerns that COVID-19 could exacerbate MS.”

Can the flu vaccine trigger an autoimmune response?

Although seasonal and H1N1 vaccines are safe and effective, they also have the potential to induce autoantibodies in selected AIRD patients and healthy adults.

What can cause MS to worsen?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) triggers that worsen symptoms or cause a relapse can include stress, heart disease and smoking. While some are easier to avoid than others, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and overall health and wellness can have outsized benefits for MS patients.

What can exacerbate MS?