Is it safe to get the flu shot while taking certain asthma medications?
Ask the doctor
Q. I have severe asthma treated with Dupixent, and still occasionally need take a short course of prednisone to control it, in addition to inhaled medications. Should I get an influenza vaccination while being on these medications?
A. Yes, I recommend that all people with asthma get a flu shot. I understand why you might be concerned, given that you are taking two medicines that can suppress your immune system.
Dupixent (dupilumab) is one of the FDA-approved biological therapies for severe eosinophilic asthma. Prednisone is an oral corticosteroid. Both agents treat asthma by altering the immune system to calm inflammation in lung airways.
A person taking either of these medications for any reason is especially vulnerable to getting the flu. He or she also has a higher chance of severe complications from influenza.
You should get the flu shot and not the inhaled nasal vaccine (FluMist). The flu shot contains inactive ingredients and no live viral particles. The nasal vaccine is a live virus that has been altered to make it safe, as long as the person has a normal immune system.
Check with your asthma doctor about the timing of your flu shot in relation to your medication program.
Image: © Sergii Iaremenko/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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