Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases, but it is not appropriate in all situations. In certain populations or conditions, vaccination may be contraindicated or require caution. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the contraindications and precautions for vaccinations, which we hope will help patients and the public understand the proper precautions to take and protect their health.
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Contraindications and precautions for vaccinations
Contraindications
A contraindication to vaccination is a situation where there is a very high risk of a serious adverse reaction in the person receiving the vaccine. This refers to the condition of the person receiving the vaccine, not the vaccine itself. Therefore, vaccines should generally not be given in the following two cases
- You have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a vaccine component or after a previous vaccination.
- You have had an encephalopathy with no other known cause within 7 days of receiving pertussis vaccine.
Permanent precautions for pertussis-containing vaccines in childhood
- Fever of 40°C (105°F) within 48 hours of vaccination
- Conditions such as exhaustion or shock that occurred within 48 hours of vaccination
- Uncontrolled crying that lasts more than 3 hours that occurred within 48 hours of vaccination
- Convulsions within 3 days of vaccination, with or without fever
Temporary contraindications for live vaccines
- Pregnancy
- Immunocompromised
Temporary contraindications to vaccination
- Moderate or severe acute illness: Caution is required with all vaccines if you have moderate or severe acute illness.
- Recently received antibody-containing blood products: If you have recently received antibody-containing blood products, you should use caution with your MMR and varicella-containing vaccine schedule. (This does not apply to shingles vaccine.)
Consult your healthcare professional
- A contraindication to vaccination is a condition that increases the likelihood of a serious adverse reaction when a vaccine is administered,
- A contraindication is a condition that requires caution when receiving the vaccine.
- It’s important to consult a healthcare professional before getting a vaccination to make sure it’s right for you.
Allergies and vaccinations
Vaccinations play an important role in preventing disease and improving overall health. However, some of the ingredients in vaccines can cause allergic reactions, so care must be taken when receiving them. Allergic reactions are rare, but they can happen, and can start with a mild rash and progress to more serious reactions such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, or severe anaphylaxis.
Egg allergy
- The protein component used in the flu vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and norovirus vaccine is produced using eggs.
- Therefore, if you are allergic to eggs, you need to be careful when receiving vaccines that contain these protein ingredients.
- It is important to consult with your healthcare provider to determine the safest way to receive the vaccine.
Sodium monosodium glutamate allergy
- Monosodium glutamate is used in some flu vaccines and protein-conjugated yellow fever vaccines.
- If you are allergic to monosodium glutamate, you may want to avoid these vaccines.
- You should consult with your healthcare provider to find an alternative way to get vaccinated.
Other allergens
- Some vaccines may contain ingredients that may cause other allergies.
- Because these ingredients may trigger an individual’s allergic reaction, it is recommended that you consult with your healthcare provider and have an allergy test prior to vaccination.
- This will help us find a safe way to give you the vaccine and ensure that you receive a vaccine that is free of allergens.
What if you have an allergy
- If you have an allergy, you don’t have to avoid all vaccines.
- You should talk to your healthcare provider to determine which vaccines you can safely receive.
- Sometimes allergic reactions can be minimised by changing the ingredients in the vaccine or using a special method of administration.
- You should familiarise yourself with the precautions for allergic reactions and respond appropriately when you receive a vaccine so that you can receive it safely.
- This will help minimise the risk of exposure to allergens while still enjoying the protective benefits of the vaccine.
Vaccination and pregnancy
Live vaccines
- Certain live vaccines are contraindicated during pregnancy.
Chickenpox vaccine
- The most well-known example is the smallpox vaccine.
- The smallpox vaccine is contraindicated in pregnant women because it can harm the fetus.
Live vaccines
- All other live vaccines are also not given during pregnancy because of the theoretical possibility of transmission from mother to foetus.
Inactivated vaccines
- Inactivated vaccines are manufactured to contain no active virus and have no ability to multiply.
- These vaccines can be safely given during pregnancy if indicated.
- For example, influenza inactivated vaccine is recommended during pregnancy, and all women who are pregnant should receive influenza inactivated vaccine because of the increased risk of complications if a pregnant woman becomes ill with influenza during the pregnancy season.
Consult with your healthcare professional
- It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated during pregnancy.
- Your healthcare provider can help you choose the right vaccine based on your condition and, if you need a vaccine, use special methods of administration to minimise the risk of allergic reactions and more.
- While women who are pregnant recognise the importance of vaccinations, it is important to take appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of their unborn child is a priority.
- It’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated during pregnancy to develop an appropriate vaccination plan.
Vaccinations for people who are immunocompromised
People who are immunocompromised need to be extra cautious about getting vaccinated. They have weakened immunity to vaccine viruses, and some vaccines require caution when administered.
Live vaccines and immunocompromised patients
- Live vaccines are commonly used for vaccinations in healthy people, but they are contraindicated in immunocompromised patients.
- Live vaccines use live viruses, and in these patients, the vaccine virus can continue to multiply, creating a threatening or even fatal situation.
- Therefore, live vaccines should not be administered to immunocompromised patients.
Inactivated vaccines and immunocompromised patients
- Inactivated vaccines are manufactured to contain no active virus and have no ability to multiply.
- These vaccines can be given to immunocompromised patients, depending on the composition of the vaccine.
- Inactivated vaccines play an important role in the prevention of infectious diseases, but they are also safe for people who are immunocompromised.
Consult with your healthcare provider
- People who are immunocompromised should talk to their healthcare provider to determine if they are eligible for vaccination.
- Your healthcare provider can develop an appropriate vaccination plan that takes into account your condition and medical history and, if necessary, use special methods of administration to minimise allergic reactions.
- While immunocompromised patients should be aware of the importance of vaccination, safety should be a priority when choosing vaccines and deciding when to receive them.
- Responding appropriately to vaccination is critical to protecting the health of immunocompromised patients.
- Proper vaccine selection and timing can help protect against infectious diseases.
Vaccination of people living with HIV
Live vaccines and people living with HIV
- People living with HIV should not receive live vaccines because they are immunocompromised.
- Live vaccines can be fatal to infected patients, and only inactivated vaccines should be given to people with HIV.
- Inactivated vaccines are manufactured to contain no active virus and have no ability to multiply, making them safe for people with HIV.
Varicella vaccine and B-cell deficiency
- People with HIV who have only B-cell deficiency can receive chickenpox vaccine, but should never be given live vaccine.
- People living with HIV should also be strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against other infectious diseases that they are at increased risk of contracting.
- For example, it is important to get the pneumococcal vaccine, influenza vaccine, etc.
Consult with a healthcare professional
- If you are living with HIV, it is important to make sure you are taking antiretroviral therapy and have your immune function levels checked before getting vaccinated.
- They should consult with a healthcare professional to develop an appropriate vaccination plan.
- While emphasising the importance of vaccination for people living with HIV, it is important to ensure that vaccinations are safe and effective, taking into account individual conditions.
- Consultation with a healthcare professional is important to ensure that people living with HIV are protected and protected from infectious diseases.
Vaccination in people with a second haematopoietic stem cell transplant
Contraindications to live vaccination
- Live vaccines are absolutely contraindicated in haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients due to their weakened immune system following surgery.
- Live vaccines can cause damage to the transplanted stem cells, which can lead to the failure of the transplant.
- Therefore, inactivated vaccines should be given to stem cell transplant patients instead of live vaccines.
Gradual progression of vaccinations
- After a stem cell transplant, immune function recovers gradually over time after surgery.
- These patients should be vaccinated gradually, depending on how their immune system is recovering.
- It is important to consult with your healthcare professional to determine the status of your immune recovery after stem cell transplantation and to determine the appropriate timing and types of vaccines to receive.
Consult with your healthcare professional
- In patients with a stem cell transplant, the recovery of immune function may affect the effectiveness of vaccinations.
- Therefore, you should consult with your healthcare professional before proceeding with any vaccination to determine the appropriate course of action.
- It is important to tailor your vaccination plan to your individual condition and response, and to provide the maximum protection possible.
Vaccination during moderate or severe acute illness
Delay vaccination during acute illness
- If you are experiencing moderate or severe acute illness, you may want to delay vaccination.
- In acute illness, vaccination may reduce antibody response or worsen side effects, and the immune system may not be working properly.
- Therefore, it is recommended to avoid vaccination until the patient’s condition is stabilised.
Consult a healthcare professional
- In the event of an acute illness, you should always consult with a healthcare professional to determine the appropriate time to get vaccinated.
- A healthcare professional can assess the patient’s condition and vaccination priorities to come up with an appropriate vaccination plan.
- After the patient’s condition has stabilised, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the appropriate timing and type of vaccine.
Underlying conditions and the importance of vaccinations
- Patients with moderate or severe acute illnesses may have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to infectious diseases.
Therefore, it’s important to get vaccinated to increase protection against infectious diseases. - However, in the event of an acute illness, vaccination should be deferred in favour of the patient’s condition.
- For patients with moderate or severe acute illness, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional to develop an appropriate vaccination plan and understand the importance of vaccination.
- This will help them make appropriate decisions based on their individual condition and the nature of the vaccination to protect against infectious diseases.
Frequently asked questions and answers
Q1: What should I do if I have an allergy to a vaccine?
A1: Before getting a vaccine, you should check to see if you have an allergic reaction to any of the vaccine components you have had contact with. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine which vaccines you can get and what precautions you should take, and if you have a severe allergic reaction, you should avoid the vaccine.
Q2: What vaccines can I get during pregnancy?
A2: Most inactivated vaccines can be safely given during pregnancy. However, live vaccines should be avoided during pregnancy. You should talk to your healthcare provider to find out which vaccines you can receive and decide when to receive them based on your gestational age.
Q3: Can I get a vaccine if I am immunocompromised?
A3: People who are immunocompromised should not receive live vaccines. However, inactivated vaccines can generally be given to immunocompromised patients. You should consult with your healthcare provider to determine if you should receive the vaccine based on your level of immunocompromise.
Q4: What vaccines can people with HIV get?
A4: People living with HIV are recommended to be vaccinated against some preventable diseases. However, people with severe HIV infection or severe immunosuppression should avoid vaccination. You should talk to your healthcare provider to determine when you can get vaccinated.
Q5: What vaccinations should haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients receive?
A5: Haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients should receive attenuated live and inactivated vaccines after transplantation. Immunity is weakened after transplantation and vaccination is necessary to protect against infectious diseases. You should work with your healthcare team to develop an appropriate vaccination plan.
As part of our activities as a Coupang Partner, we receive a percentage of the commission.
Conclusion
Vaccination is a highly effective method of preventing infectious disease, but appropriate dosing is required in all situations. People with allergies, pregnancy, immunocompromised, HIV infection, haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients, and those with moderate or severe acute illness should be cautious about vaccination.Understanding these contraindications and precautions and taking appropriate precautions in consultation with your healthcare professional will help protect your health from infectious diseases.