Vaccinations and immunisations pre transplant protect you from a variety of infections once you are immunosuppressed.
What vaccinations are required for a heart transplant?
Vaccinations / immunisations pre transplant protect you from a variety of infections. After transplant you will be on anti rejection medications for life. These medications lower your immune system’s ability to fight infection. It is vital to complete these vaccinations before the transplant while your immune system is not compromised or lowered. Blood tests will screen your level of immunity and determine what vaccinations you require, if any.
What Vaccinations will you need?
The following list is of the vaccinations / immunisations you may need to have or have updated:
COVID 19 (including boosters)
Hepatitis B
Flu / Influenza
Pneumovax (protects against 23 different strains of pneumococcal pneumonia)
Varicella (chicken Pox)
Human Papilloma Virus
Boosters for Pertussis, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough, Shingles are also suggested.
You may also receive two injections of an antiviral called EVUSHIELD (a combination of Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab) as extra protection from COVID 19. As a patient that attends the SVH Heart / Lung Clinic, I receive this as a routine vaccination as a preventative precaution.
The Vaccination Guidelines, I followed may provide you with an insight of what to expect. The PDF provided here was supplied to me through my Heart Transplant Coordinator at St Vincent’s Hospital. I hope it helps.
Please leave a comment if you would like to know more about each type of vaccination or a specific vaccination and I will create a post with greater detail
X
Wednesday
“There is no vaccine against stupidity.”
~ Albert Einstein
HI Wednesday,
Did you have to pay for the shingles vaccine or was it covered under medicare?
Hi,Steve
Thank you for your question.
Yes, I had to pay for the shingles vaccine as I am under 70 years of age. The shingles vaccine is free for those aged over 70.
As I was already on immune suppression treatment for sarcoidosis, I was given the non-live vaccine, Shingrix®.
I also had to pay for all the other vaccinations unless they were administered in St Vincent’s Hospital where they were bulk billed.
X Wednesday Wynn