Melissa Kaplan's
Chronic Neuroimmune Diseases
Information on CFS, FM, MCS, Lyme Disease, Thyroid, and more...
Last updated January 1, 2014

Some of us who have various CND get extremely ill after getting a vaccine. Others experience little effect, or get a few mild symptoms which pass in a matter of days. The following articles have appeared through the years in the fall issues of CFIDS and FM publications.

For the most part, we at the Cheney Clinic believe it is unnecessary and possibly even risky to take immunizations. Patients with CFIDS already have markedly unregulated immune systems. Any given germ or virus that enters the system is essentially neutralized and destroyed right away. This is why CFIDS patients are apt to remark that it seems they haven't had a cold or flu since they had this disease.

Patients with CFIDS frequently don't sero convert, which means their immune systems are so dysfunctional that it does not react to the vaccine by making antibodies. A CFIDS patient may take all the risks and discomforts of receiving the immunization only to find that it does not take.

Lastly, patients with upregulated immune systems are felt to be at higher risk for adverse reactions to vaccines and occasionaly, we hear of someone who gets extremely ill or relapses after an immunization.

At the international conferences in Albany, October 1992, these same questions were raised and many reseachers could recall severe reactions or relapses to seemingly harmless vaccines such as measles, tetanus, and especially Hepatitis B. On the other hand, immunotherapies, such as allergy shots, seem to be tolerated very well.

Persons who need the flu vaccine are senior citizens and those with chronic debilitating illnesses such as severe diabetes, emphysema, and serious heart disorders. We advise our patients that unless you absolutely need a vaccination, it is best to pass it up.

Influenza Vaccinations
Charles Lapp MD, 2002

Due to reports of severe relapses following immunization, flu vaccinations are generally NOT recommended to persons with CFS or FM unless (1) you have taken flu vaccinations in the past and tolerated them well or (2) you have a serious chronic illness (such as emphysema, diabetes, or heart disease) in addition to CFS or FM. Not only do some patients relapse after flu vaccination, but many do not sero-convert (develop antibodies) to the vaccination. Thus you may suffer the discomfort of a "shot" plus the misery of a relapse, and not even develop immunity. These are the current recommendations from the Hunter-Hopkins Center: If you have tolerated it in the past, you may take a flu vaccination this year if you wish. Recognize, however, that you may not develop protective antibodies. If you are elderly, infirm, or have a serious chronic illness for which vaccination is recommended, weigh the risk of immunization against the risk of contracting the flu. If you don't take the flu vaccination, "antibiotics" are available to fight influenza. These should be started within 72 hours of onset in order to reduce the severity and the length of your illness. These drugs include:

• Symmetrel (amantidine): 100mg bid for 5 days for influenza A
• Flumadene (ramantidine): 100mg bid for 5 days for influenza A
• Relenza (an inhaler): 2 puffs bid for 5 days for influenza A or B
• Tamiflu: 1 tab bid for 5 days for influenza A or B

There have been anecdotal reports of relapses being triggered by Hepatitis B and Rubella vaccines as well, but pneumococcal, H. influenza, and tetanus seem to be tolerated satisfactorily.

Comments Posted on Lyme Disease email lists

• It's not supposed to be given to people who are taking antibiotics.

• For those people not on antibiotics, the flu vaccine is probably no worse than for the general population. Tamiflu is an oral neuraminidase inhibitor that blocks entry of the influenza virus into cells. It can be started within 24 hours of developing flu symptoms, and it generally shortens and attenuates the symptoms of the flu so that they are manageable. It's taken as two pills a day for 5 days, and has no side effects that I have seen. There is a liquid form for kids.

• I am sure that this anecdote does not describe everyone's experience but I had a friend who staved off her lyme symptoms quite well, was functioning in real life with a job and all - until receiving a flu shot. Then hell broke loose and she became one of the sickest chronic lyme sufferers that I have known. She definitely blames the flu shot for triggering her symptoms. This is not the case with all Lyme people, obviously, and I do know that there are some Lymies that have no problems with the shots and swear by them.

Related Information

National Vaccine Information Center: Flu Shots

Immune Deficiency Foundation: FluMist™ Vaccine Warning

FluMist™ Q & A

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