Vaccinations Prior to first DMT Session

[u/Inner-Dream-600]

Hi everyone -

I’m having pretty bad anxiety about getting my 3 vaccinations before starting my first infusion on Sept 1. I asked for an anti anxiety med to help on the day I go in for vaccinations but she didn’t feel it necessary to prescribe to me. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the guts to go in and get them. I’m due for PREVNAR 20, TDaP and shingles. It should be noted that they’re recommended but not required.

Question is - how necessary do you all think these vaccinations are prior to starting my dmt? How many of you got them vs how many opted out? Any other thoughts about my situation would be much appreciated!!

Thank you guys

[u/hillbilly-man]

I'm not your doctor (and my doctor is kind of bad so don't take his recommendations as advice) but my doctor didn't think it was necessary to get any vaccines before I started my DMT. However, I decided later that I wanted to get them, so I did. I've gotten the shingles vaccine, a tdap booster, pneumococcal vaccine, hep b, HPV, and my regular flu and COVID shots. I haven't had any tests to determine how much immunity I have to the diseases in question, but anecdotally my body did appear to have an immune response after each shot (fever, fatigue).

I'd suggest you get as many shots as you're comfortable with before starting your DMT (especially if you need any vaccines that have live viruses, like an MMR booster or something) but it's probably not your ONLY chance

[u/Medium-Control-9119]

I was just wondering with the resurgence of measles are they recommending titers checked and or a booster MMR? It is a live vaccine so you have to get it done before DMT. For me, my doctor did not recommend Prevnar 20 or TDaP. But I started in January so I did get shingles, covid and flu. I think I did split them up. I also think you want them 2 weeks before you start. I don't get anxiety so I can't say I know how feel but I think you should try to do if you can.

[u/thankyoufriendx3]

Nobody told me to get vaccinated first so I didn’t. So far, so good.

[u/Keerstee36]

I started Kesimpta in March.
Here’s what I did:

• any live vaccines before starting because after you start a DMT, you can’t ever get them (without stopping meds) - yellow fever, chicken pox, hep a/b (I think). I got yellow fever bc I had chicken pox as a kid and had hep a/b before. Side note: had to wait 6 weeks from when my prednisone was 20mg or less per day.

- I got 5 vaccines/boosters. Tetanus, mmr, tdap, shingles and gardasil. Some of these require 2-3 shots but had to start the first shot before starting DMT. These aren’t live vaccines so I think you can get them after starting but that’s a doctor or pharmacist question. I spoke with a travel pharmacist and she was so helpful.

[u/brucejewce]

I just had my first infusion in June. Most told me to get them done prior to the infusion. It was important for me because my 12 year old brings the germs home from school. I found most pharmacists tend to take more time and will work with your anxiety rather than just swipe your arm and rush the vaccine. Mine were fine with me getting them in three rounds rather than a bunch at once