Contraindications to vaccination appear most often as a result of various he alth situations of patients. For the vast majority of the population, vaccines are a safe and effective method of preventing infectious diseases. However, for some patients, vaccinations may be ineffective or pose a risk of worsening of their he alth. What are the contraindications for vaccination? Under what circumstances should vaccination be postponed? Do all types of vaccines have the same contraindications?

Vaccination contraindicationsmay be due to various reasons. Immunodeficiency that prevents a response to vaccination that cannot be produced, increased side effects from previous administration of vaccines, and the risk of the vaccine having a negative effect on he alth are some examples of situations in which vaccination may be contraindicated. When discussing contraindications to vaccinations, it should be emphasized that they are individual in each patient. Contraindications may apply to vaccination with a particular preparation, a specific group of vaccines or all vaccinations in general.

Contraindications to vaccination and types of vaccines

Protective vaccinations are the most effective form of preventing many infectious diseases. They constitute a large group of medical devices with a different composition and mechanism of action. The purpose of performing preventive vaccinations is to induce the body's immunity against specific microorganisms.

The vaccine allows the immune system to "recognize" an infectious factor, and then "remember" it and generate a defense response. In case of repeated contact with this factor, it is quickly eliminated.

Although the final effect of the vaccines is similar,each vaccine has a different composition . The most important component of the vaccine are microbial-specific elements that allow it to trigger a targeted defense response.

For some vaccines, these arelive microorganisms , devoid of pathogenic properties (rendered harmless, so-called attenuated).

Vaccines may also containdead microorganismsas well as bits of them.

Some vaccinesare based onantigens , i.e. single molecules (proteins, sugars) characteristic for a given microorganism.

Vaccines may also containtoxins , which are neutralized toxins produced by a given infectious agent. The main component of any vaccine must be harmless to the human body, and at the same time capable of stimulating an immune system response.

Does the type and composition of the vaccine relate to the contraindications for vaccination?

Definitely yes.The most restrictions apply to the application of the so-called live vaccines . These preparations contain inactivated microorganisms that cannot cause active infection in a he althy organism.

However, there are conditions in which the immune system is permanently or temporarily suppressed and the human immune system is weakened. In such cases, vaccines containing live microorganisms should not be used.

Examples of live vaccinesh include :

  • BCG (tuberculosis),
  • MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  • and VZV (chickenpox and shingles).

"Non-live" vaccines , containing dead microorganisms or their fragments, do not carry the risk of causing active disease, even in the case of immunodeficiency.

However, there are also specific contraindications in this group of vaccines, related to, among others, with hypersensitivity to the vaccine components or the risk of not inducing a defense response.

Temporary and permanent contraindications to vaccination

In some patients, contraindications to vaccination are temporary - they are conditioned by the current he alth condition and do not exclude the possibility of vaccination in the future. In some cases, contraindications to vaccinations may apply for life.

Complications after the vaccine

One of the most common contraindications to vaccination are serious complicationsobserved after previous vaccinations. This is especially true of anaphylaxis, which is a serious hypersensitivity reaction including:

  • respiratory system,
  • circulatory system,
  • skin
  • and digestive tract.

An anaphylactic reaction after administration of one dose of the vaccine is a contraindication to the administration of subsequent doses of this preparation . After anaphylaxis occurs, one should try to determine which component of the vaccine caused it.

The substances responsible for the anaphylactic reaction after vaccination are most often:

  • egg white,
  • gelatin
  • or yeast.

AfterIf the causative agent of anaphylaxis has been identified, no other vaccines containing the same ingredient should be used.

It is also worth emphasizing that anaphylaxis is one of the few post-vaccination complications that may constitute a contraindication to other vaccinations.

Much more frequently observed,mild complications after vaccination(fever, malaise, rash, headache, diarrhea), do not constitute a contraindication for subsequent vaccinations.

Also other allergic diseases or allergies to substances not included in the vaccine are not a contraindication to vaccination.

Infectious diseases

The most common reason for postponing vaccination is acute infectious diseases . In the event of an infection, the eligibility for vaccination depends on the patient's condition.

Infectious diseases with mild course and a slight fever (for example - mild colds, diarrhea) are not a contraindication for vaccination.

In case of severe symptoms of infection (flu, angina), high fever or a severe condition of the patient, it is usually recommended to postpone the vaccination by a few weeks.

Antibiotics

It is also worth knowing that the use of antibiotics is not an absolute contraindication to vaccination. A patient in good general condition can be vaccinated regardless of antibiotic use.

Immune system disorders

Vaccination can be effective only if the immune system is in an appropriate state, which enables the development of post-vaccination immunity. Diseases leading to a weakened immune system may be a contraindication to vaccination.

This should be remembered especially in the case of the so-called live vaccines, which may cause undesirable effects in immunocompromised patients.

Impaired immune system function may prevent you from responding to vaccination. A weak immune system can have different causes. Serious immune disorders may occur in patients suffering from cancer, both in the course of their disease and as a result of its treatment (e.g. in patients undergoing chemotherapy).

Only active neoplastic processes are a contraindication to vaccination. Patients cured of neoplastic diseases can be vaccinated as long as the functions of the immune system are maintained.

A weakened immune system may be a consequence of long-term immunosuppressive therapy, such as in autoimmune diseases or after organ transplantation. Certain immunodeficienciesmay be congenital (so-called primary immunodeficiencies).

Another cause of immune system failure is HIV infection. However, it should be emphasized that the described diseases are not an absolute contraindication to all vaccinations. A patient's eligibility for vaccination depends on the current state of the immune system as well as the type of vaccine used.

Chronic diseases

Are chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, or coronary artery disease a contraindication for vaccination? Most of the time, no. Chronically ill patients are usually more susceptible to severe complications of infectious diseases, therefore the use of preventive vaccinations is even more advisable in them.

The exceptions are neoplastic diseases and diseases that require immunosuppressive treatment.

A contraindication to vaccinating a patient with a chronic disease is also the recent deterioration of the patient's condition, caused by an exacerbation of the disease. In such a case, first efforts should be made to stabilize the patient's condition and the vaccination should be postponed for a few weeks.

Some medical interventions are also a temporary contraindication to vaccination. This principle applies primarily to live vaccines. In the case of a single dose of a live vaccine, the next vaccination with such a vaccine can be performed after four weeks at the earliest.

Live vaccines should not be used for some time (usually several months) after blood transfusions or the use of blood products. These types of preparations may contain ready-made antibodies that are capable of neutralizing the vaccine components and reducing the response to vaccination.

Contraindications to vaccination and pregnancy

Vaccination during pregnancy is a complex issue.Some vaccinations are recommended for pregnant women, while others - absolutely contraindicated .

The combination of the mother's and fetal bloodstream in the placenta enables protective antibodies to be passed on from mother to baby. Maternal antibodies are one of the foundations of the immunity of the fetus, whose own immune system is still immature.

For this reason, women planning pregnancy are advised to undergo or complete the full course of preventive vaccinations. During pregnancy, it is also safe to vaccinate with non-live and inactivated vaccines. Pregnant women are primarily advised to have influenza and whooping cough immunization.

During pregnancy, vaccinations with the use of vaccines are absolutely contraindicatedlive (chicken pox, measles, mumps, rubella). These types of vaccines may carry a risk of causing an active infection in the fetus.

The use of live vaccines is contraindicated both during pregnancy and in the period immediately preceding it (1-3 months).

It is worth emphasizing, however, that the vast majority of vaccines can be used during the lactation period. According to the recommendations of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the only vaccine that is absolutely contraindicated during breastfeeding is the yellow fever vaccine.

Category:

Infectious diseases