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TDAP Shot with Lyme, Autoimmune

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Posted 8/8/2024 2:08 PM (GMT -5)
With Lyme, Babesia, Bart and Sjogrens Syndrome (autoimmune), I'm not sure what to do and waiting to hear back from my doctors. Am wondering all of your thoughts.

My daughter-in-law is pregnant and due in October. She has mentioned all the grandparents need to have a TDAP shot to be around the future granddaughter. I have not had a vaccination of any type for years, and have read the TDAP could or could not make autoimmune worse.

Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
Posted 8/8/2024 4:03 PM (GMT -5)
Well, if she requires other people to have their vaccinations, does she not require her infant daughter to have vaccinations?

This particular one has three different types for the age group of the receiver. I don’t know how many days or weeks old before an infant gets this Vaccination.

I didn’t know if vaccinations can possibly cause auto immune to get worse. But I do know as a fact, though is If your IGg levels are extremely low, then have vaccination like this could be a bad thing for you.

Immunocompromised Is different than auto immune, but since I know a little about and have both : Pneumonia vaccinations are used for testing whether you develop antibodies or not since that particular illness is less lethal than some other possible illnesses to use for antibody testing.
Posted 8/8/2024 5:06 PM (GMT -5)
So if you don't get it then you will not see your own granddaughter?

Is she also never taking the baby into any type of public place?

What an awful thing to tell your grandparent.

Maybe you should put a condition on her seeing your son as well.

To answer your question though, vaccines induce a strong immune response, so I wouldn't do it (knowing your health issues).
Posted 8/8/2024 5:34 PM (GMT -5)
On a cursory search, it seems that new evidence has come to light questioning the efficacy of the vaccine schedule.

It's only really given to pregnant women these days. It doesn't make sense for someone who's a grandparent, to be getting it.

It probably stems from some kind of maternal germaphobia - which is understandable.

Nonetheless, it would be unreasonable for her to insist on you getting it in light of this evidence. Along with the fact that vaccines can cause horrible adverse reactions in those with autoimmunity issues or immune dysfunction.

This is Harvard stating this, not just anyone by the way.

Harvard article on TDAP

What does the new study on tetanus boosters suggest?

A recent paper published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases suggested that tetanus and diphtheria booster vaccines are not necessary for adults who have completed their childhood vaccination series. This advice aligns with the current World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. The researchers reviewed WHO data from 31 North American and European countries between 2001 and 2016, amounting to 11 billion person-years. (Person-years is a measurement that reflects the number of people in the study multiplied by years followed). After comparing the incidence of tetanus and diphtheria, they found no significant difference in disease rates in countries that require adults to receive booster shots compared with those that do not. Based on this, the authors suggest that childhood vaccination alone protects sufficiently against tetanus and diphtheria without booster shots.

Post Edited (fergleman) : 8/8/2024 2:39:25 PM (GMT-8)

Posted 8/8/2024 6:59 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you all for the very informative answers and points. My son is getting the shot but has no health issues. I have read for years vaccinations can cause a strong immune response, and I never knew the information about childhood vaccines, which I had so many of as a kid.

Have sent a message to my LLMD, who also deals with autoimmune issues. Will see how it players out. Wish it were simpler than it now is, but after dealing with so much for so long with all the Lyme and autoimmune, I have learned to deal with anything. If the LLMD and my rheumy say it's not a good idea, all I can do is let them, know. If I can't see my granddaughter, that's just, sadly, how it will be.
Posted 8/9/2024 1:13 AM (GMT -5)
Not to stir the pot … but
I do understand some what your daughter in law is feeling.

When I gave birth to our premature baby - I was very protective.
For the first few weeks I insisted friends/family washed their hands before holding my baby.
When my sister came over and I said this to her - she said snapped “well, I won’t hold him then”
Posted 8/9/2024 6:03 AM (GMT -5)
its not unusual for a new mother to be superprotective over her baby - especially in the begining

actually i can quite understand someone wanting people to wash their hands if the baby is premature and therefore more susceptible - and after all - washing ones hands is no real hardship

however in this case - having a vaccine - while a minor issue for most people - for someone with a very reactive system already - infections - auto-immune disease etc - already barely under control - i think an additional vaccine is a significant risk - and don't think i would want to go down that path due to the uncertainty of throwing another thing into the mix.

in the meantime - its very easy for both sides to get very hung up on this and feel hurt without really understanding the other eg - "if you don't do this then you don't care about me or my baby etc"
and "no, its you that don't care about me - a vaccination could put me in the hospital!"

so i would try to avoid this - talk it through - but avoid all discussion of who is right and who is wrong - and instead be vulnerable - talk about your feelings without implying they are wrong.
Be curious and ask about their feelings

perhaps a compromise is possible that they would be comfortable with -
eg "i am happy to wash my hands and wear a mask"

again - this is unlikely to be forever - things will calm down over time

all the best
Posted 8/9/2024 2:05 PM (GMT -5)
I've never been one to get my feelings hurt and do understand the concerns,especially on first child. With me, it's not about being right or wrong - it's what is possible for me to do without feeling even worse, which is in a bad place right now.

I do want to do the shot, if it is possible to do so without sending myself into an even bigger flare. I have messages into my doctors about this, and I've been reading as much as possible about it. I didn't know there are "active" vaccines and inactive vaccines. Right now I'm also trying to discern what the difference is.

There is also the fact I remember having what the clinic called a tetanus shot back in early 2016 after stepping on a nail hidden under leaves on a board. It was at a distance running practice. From what I've seen, it's also hard to figure out if what they called a tetanus shot was actually a TADP. The clinic is no longer there, so I can't find out.

Using harsh words does no one any good, so I'll wait to hear back from my LLMD and rheumy to see what each thinks. TADP is an inactive vaccine, but I think COVID vaccine is also, though they are two totally different in nature. It's just I really don't want to take any chance with making health rose, and if they don't understand that, I'll simply deal with it. That isn't something I would want to do, but ifi they don't understand, that's their call.
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