That’s because people with these disorders may be at higher risk of contracting the flu and experiencing severe health complications as a result, according to the CDC. However, many people are concerned about the safety and effectiveness of the flu vaccine. So is the flu shot, which is commonly available at primary care doctors’ offices and pharmacies, safe for people with PD? And will it work? “The short answer is yes, full stop,” says Jori Fleisher, MD, an associate professor of neurological sciences at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. “Unfortunately, if people with a neurologic condition aren’t explicitly told to get the vaccine, they often don’t. And that’s the wrong message. Just because someone has PD, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get other age-appropriate preventive care that they need.” Dr. Fleisher uses the example of breast cancer. “A woman with Parkinson’s would still get a mammogram,” she explains. When people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s get the flu, not only do they experience typical symptoms — cough, fever, and fatigue, for example — but they may also see their tremor, slowness, stiffness, and other Parkinson’s symptoms temporarily worsen, Fleisher says. In addition, flu-related illness such as pneumonia can be more severe and longer-lasting in people with PD or worsen symptoms related to walking and balance, swallowing, rigidity, and tremor, she adds. Historically, studies have suggested that people with Parkinson’s who develop pneumonia are at high risk of death. Not surprisingly, people with Parkinson’s are included on the CDC’s list of those at high risk for the flu and are advised to get vaccinated early, ideally by the end of October each year. Moreover, there are no specific restrictions against getting the flu shot for people with Parkinson’s, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation, and none of the prescription medications currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of PD carry any specific warnings regarding the flu vaccine, Fleisher notes. As a result, the foundation recommends that everyone with Parkinson’s get the flu shot annually.
Types of Flu Vaccine
Flu, or influenza, vaccines are designed to cause antibodies against the virus to develop in your body within about two weeks of receiving the shot, according to the CDC. Antibodies are proteins created by your immune system that provide protection against infection with the viruses that are used to make vaccine, which varies from year to year based on what research suggests will be the most common during the winter season, the agency says. Although the effectiveness of the seasonal flu vaccine fluctuates depending on what strains of the virus circulate, it typically prevents severe illness about 40 to 60 percent of the time, based on CDC data. There are several flu vaccines used in the United States. They include: Unadjuvanted Quadrivalent Vaccines These vaccines, which are administered via shots or injections, are made using flu virus cells grown in eggs. Examples include: Afluria Quadrivalent, Fluarix Quadrivalent, FluLaval Quadrivalent, and Fluzone Quadrivalent. They’re designed to protect against four different flu viruses projected to be in circulation during a flu season. There are no precautions or warnings with these vaccines for people with Parkinson’s; however, if you’re allergic to eggs or sulfur, you should use a different vaccine, the CDC advises. Quadrivalent Cell-Based Vaccines These vaccines, which are also administered via shots or injections, are made from flu virus cells grown in cell cultures, so they’re egg-free. Flucelvax Quadrivalent is an example of this type of vaccine. Both of these vaccines are made from weakened influenza viruses. In the United States, live-attenuated flu vaccines are also available in a nasal spray, according to the CDC. Recombinant Quadrivalent Vaccines These vaccines are the option most often called the “flu shot,” the CDC says. They aren’t made using candidate vaccine virus samples. Instead, they’re made synthetically, based on the DNA of naturally occurring flu viruses. They may be made in egg-based manufacturing processes, or using cell-based approaches, according to the CDC. Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Vaccines These vaccines, which are also given as shots or injections, are designed for people age 65 and older — the age group commonly associated with Parkinson’s — because they feature an ingredient designed to create a stronger immune response, according to the CDC. Older adults are known to have weaker immune systems, which makes it more difficult for them to fight off infections. These vaccines are egg-free. Quadrivalent High-Dose Vaccines This vaccine, sold as Fluzone High-Dose, contains a higher dose of antigen (the ingredient designed to stimulate antibody response) to help create a stronger immune reaction in adults age 65 and older, the CDC says. Live Attenuated Vaccines This vaccine, sold as FluMist Quadrivalent, is given intranasally with a nasal sprayer, instead of with a needle like other flu shots. It’s approved for people ages 2 to 49. Because they use live flu virus cells, live attenuated vaccines shouldn’t be given to people who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems due to other health conditions. The Davis-Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s notes that only needle injection flu vaccines are recommended for people with the disorder. This means, if you have PD, you shouldn’t get a nasal spray vaccine.
Vaccine Side Effects
All of these vaccines have been linked with side effects, primarily injection-site reactions in the case of the shots. In addition, some people may develop flu-like symptoms for a short time after receiving the vaccine, but they will be much milder than a typical illness caused by the virus, according to Fleisher. “People may experience these symptoms for a little while, but it just means that their immune system is responding to the vaccine,” she said. “Unfortunately, anytime someone with PD is feeling under the weather, even if it’s a reaction to a vaccine, it can worsen their PD symptoms temporarily. Still, it’s always better to get the vaccine than it is to get the actual illness.”
