Can I get the Pneumovax 23 vaccine while on Symbicort Turbuhaler?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for the query. I can understand your concern. According to your statement, you are a known case of chronic asthma. You are on Symbicort Turbuhaler. Symbicort Turbuhaler is the proper medication for your chronic asthma. As this medication contains steroids like Budesonide, it can impair someone's body immunity and make them prone to opportunistic infections like oral candidiasis or pneumonia. In a three-year clinical trial with Budesonide in COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, pneumonia can occur at a frequency of 6% compared with 3% in the placebo group. It indicates only six people may develop pneumonia among the 100 people who have been treated with steroid medications like Budesonide. The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine known as Pneumovax 23 vaccine covers 23 different variants of the pneumococcal bacteria. So, it will protect against the most common type of pneumonia called pneumococcal pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria. Patients with underlying chronic diseases like chronic asthma or COPD should be revaccinated every five years. So, one Pneumovax 23 shot will provide you protection for five years against the most common type of pneumonia known as pneumococcal pneumonia. Though steroids may reduce body immunity and may develop opportunistic infections like oral candidiasis or pneumonia, you should continue your current steroid inhaler as a reliever for chronic asthma. Take care. In case of any other query, ask me.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. Thanks for joining again. Yes, you should stop your steroid inhaler before and after taking the Pneumovax shot to give it some time to work or to create antibodies against pneumococcal infections. Before taking the Pneumovax shot, you should inform your doctor that you are a long-term user of a steroid inhaler. He will advise you to stop using the steroid inhaler for few days, like 14 days before taking this Pneumovax shot. Again, after taking the Pneumovax shot, he will advise you to stop using the steroid inhaler for additional few days, like 14 days, to provide enough time to produce antibodies against pneumococcal infections. As steroid medications can interfere with the full effectiveness of a Pneumovax shot, your doctor can stop your steroid inhaler for few days before and after getting the Pneumovax shot. I hope I have answered your question. Take care. Let me know if I can assist you further.