Vaccines Contraindications

1. Vaccines Contraindications

2. Contraindications to any routine active immunization procedure • An acute febrile illness, malaise, cough, diarrhea, or other symptoms requiring medical treatment. • A sever local or general reaction to dose of the same vaccine.

3. Contraindications to any routine active immunization procedure • Children who have had convulsions, fits, cerebral damage or irritation in the neonatal period or any neurological disorder which appears to be active should not normally have DTP vaccine as a routine. They should be referred for specialist advice. • Active untreated tuberculosis.

4. Contraindications to the use of live attenuated vaccines • Immunocomproised infants and children. • Patients suffering from any malignant condition such as leukemia or Hodgkin’s disease. • Patients undergoing treatment with corticosteroid (other than topical steroids), alkalating agents, antimetabolites or those receiving radiotherapy. • Organ transplantations.

5. Contraindications to the use of live attenuated vaccines (cont.) • Pregnancy, although the only known risk was from smallpox vaccine, which has now been withdrawn, and a suspected risk from an early rubella vaccine in practice the actual known risk from any live vaccines is very small, if it exists at all. Nevertheless, pregnancy is included as a contraindication for all live vaccines as a general safety measure. As a result every opportunity should be taken to have recommended immunizations completed or updated before a pregnancy is started.

6. Contraindications to the use of live attenuated vaccines (cont.) • Sever protein energy malnutrition or kwashiorkor. Opinion differs as to whether the nutritional state should be corrected before undertaking measles vaccines are well tolerated even in the most sever forms of malnutrition.

7. Conditions which are NOT Contraindications • 1 - A common cold, catarrh. This is undoubtedly the most common reason that is given for not immunizing. However, unless a child or any patient for that matter, is actually ill with a fever, these other mild symptoms should not exclude immunization. The counter argument that mild respiratory symptoms may be the prodromal symptoms of amore sever illness has to be recognized. If health care personnel are uncertain they should seek medical advice before undertaking immunization. • 2 - A mild local reaction to a previous dose, i.e. one that doesn't require treatment. • 3 - A family history of allergy , eczema or asthma . • 4 - A personal history eczema (except for small box vaccine which is not now used)

8. Conditions which are NOT Contraindications (cont.) 5- An antibiotic course just completed. 6- Congenital heart disease, chronic diseases of the chest, eg. Cystic fibrosis (these are important indications for immunization) 7- Prematurely, or preterm delivery. 8- Nappy rash. 9- Breast feeding. 10- Under nutrition, failure to thrive . 11- Topical steroids.

9. Invalid contraindications to Vaccination • Mild Illness. • Antibiotic therapy. • Disease exposure or convalescence. • Pregnancy in household. • Breastfeeding. • Premature birth. • Allergies to products not in vaccines. • Family history unrelated to immunosuppressive. • Need for TB skin testing. • Need for multiple vaccines.

10. Invalid Contraindications Minor Illness • Low grade fever • Upper respiratory infection • Otitis media • Mild diarrhea • Only one small study has suggested decreased efficacy of measles vaccine in children with URI • Findings not replicated by multiple prior and subsequent studies • No evidence of increased adverse reactions