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Vaccines Contraindications

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.

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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.

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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.

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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vaccine, which has now been withdrawn, and a suspected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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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

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