In regard to Dane’s receiving flu and Covid vaccines, from my understanding it’s safe to receive flu and Covid vaccines at 1 month after transplant and all others at least 6 months to a year after transplant. No live vaccinations such as MMR. I had to wait over 4 years for my MMR.

Covid wasn’t around when I had my transplant but I did have a flu vaccine in the fall…that would have been around 4 months post. The usual soreness at the injection site and then mild fever and malaise the first night. Woke up the next morning and I was fine.

The first covid vaccines were available when I was 9 months post. (April 2020) I did have a flare up of my atypical GVHD about 2 weeks post vaccination…and with each subsequent covid vaccination. Symptoms settled down without incident about a month later each time. (I was in touch with my team the entire time and under their guidance). I also had a flare after my MMR. Because of that I am on a hiatus from vaccines right now and take extra precautions to avoid potential exposure. So, I can understand your trepidation with receiving the vaccines this early in the game. Most of my friends who have had a BMT have not had any flares or onset of GVHD! Even without a BMT our body’s immune system will launch a response…it’s normal.

However, since Dane basically has very little to no innate or adaptive immunity right now, with flu and Covid on the rise it may be worth the very slight risk to get the vaccine. If he were to get Covid or the flu, the risk of developing chronic gvhd of the lungs would increase. That’s what his doctor is trying to protect him from. If he develops gvhd issues from the vaccine, they can generally be treated quickly with a burst of steroids. It’s like stomping out little fires. So don’t live in fear of gvhd. We need some of that! It’s the ‘graft vs tumor’ effect that keeps us healthy. Some gvhd would show his immune system IS working. ☺️. Complicated, isn’t it! 😅