IBD FAQ

1. Is my child safe to have the flu shot and other school-required vaccinations?
Yes, we strongly recommend that your child get the flu shot yearly.

Yes your child is safe to have the Hepatitis and HPV vaccinations.

In general, the NON-LIVE vaccines ARE safe for your child to have even when they are on immunotherapy.
The LIVE vaccines are NOT safe to have when your child is on immunosuppressive therapy, which includes methotrexate, azathioprine, Infliximab (Remicade) or Adalimumab (Humira). Examples of live vaccines are the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), varicella (chicken pox), yellow fever and the nasal flu spray.

2. My accountant thinks that we may qualify for a tax credit if our gastroenterologist signs a Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate.
The criteria to qualify for this tax credit are very strict. Unfortunately, very few of our IBD patients qualify for this tax credit.

Below are the two related requirements your child needs to meet. If you think they meet the criteria below, we will have your forms signed for your tax credit to be processed. A fee may apply for the forms.

Elimination (bowel or bladder function).

A person who is able to manage elimination without difficulties or without requiring an inordinate amount of time would not qualify for the disability tax credit (DTC) even if he or she has to go to the bathroom more frequently than others.

A person who has a chronic problem with elimination but can manage it with dietary changes or the use of medication would not qualify for the DTC.

However, a person who requires assistance all, or substantially all of the time (at least 90% of the time), to get to the washroom and to manage their elimination once there, or a person who is incontinent of bladder function and requires a inordinate amount of time to manage and tend to changing incontinence pads may qualify for the DTC.

Does your child meet these criteria? YES or NO

Feeding.

A person who is able to successfully eat at an average speed would not qualify for the disability tax credit (DTC).
A person who is able to eat at a reasonable pace with the aid of a modified utensil does not qualify for the DTC sine the activity can be completed with the use of an aid without taking an inordinate amount of time.
However, a person who, because of physical impairments takes an inordinate amount of time to successfully eat, all or substantially all of the time (at least 90% of the time), even with the use of an aid, may qualify for the DTC.

Does your child meet these criteria? YES or NO

More information can be found online at:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/sgmnts/dsblts/qlfd-prcts/menu-eng.html

REMINDER: This information is intended to provide general information and should not be used to base a diagnosis or treatment. Please consult the doctors about your specific condition and the approach for treatment.