Saar Kuzi
Alessandra Coutinho Fernandes
William Cope
Richard Tapping
Kashif Ahmad
Reda Sadki
Shubhra Kanti Karmaker Santu
Adam P Rusch
Elizabeth Edwards
Matthew LawFA16 Immunization Module’s Updates
Contraditions to vaccinations - people with chronic autoimmune disorders
People with chronic rheumatic or autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or vasculitides, may or may not benefit from vaccination against certain diseases. [1]
The above-mentioned people do not have a normal healthy immune system. Some of these patients regularly take immunosuppresant medication that will affect their immune system's response to vaccination. These people must follow the guildlines for vaccination of immunosuppressed persons, and not receive live vaccines. In general, few recent studies focus on the effects of vaccination in patients with such disorders, but vaccine-specific research suggets that influenza (except for FluMist, which contains live viruses) and pneumococal vaccines are effective and safe in such persons. [1]
However, people with autoimmune disorders must be vary of other problems associated with vaccines. Some vaccins can cause flair-ups of the autoimmune disorder. One example of this is multipe sclerosis. National MS Society has an extensive page [2] explainig vaccination recommendations for patients with MS. For example, receiving the Shingles vaccine is not recommendad for MS patients since it can increase the likelihood of relapses.
@Nassim Mafi I understand why immunosuppressed patients would have to be weary about which vaccines they receive to keep their risks of potential infection lower. Are there other autoimmune disease that would be included in this precaution? I assume those you listed aren't the only autoimmune disorders who have to be cautious about what kind of vaccines they receive. What other vaccines are safe for immunosuppressed patients? Is it all non-live vaccines? Just some general curiosity sparked here :)
@Nassim Mafi This is an interesting area. There is a well known link between infections and autoimmune diseases. To me, it is not surprising that certain vaccines, especially live attenuated vaccines, could be problematic in these populations. I see you've found some good references!