Before starting immunosuppressive therapy, when should a live vaccine be given?

Before starting immunosuppressive therapy, when should a live vaccine be given?

• A. 2 weeks before
• B. 4 weeks before
• C. At the start of therapy
• D. After therapy

Answer: (B)

Live vaccines should be given four weeks before starting immunosuppressive therapy because they rely on the body's ability to mount a robust immune response to a replicating vaccine organism. Giving them a sufficient lead time allows the immune system to develop protective immunity and reduces the risk of a vaccine-related infection once immunosuppression begins, when the weakened pathogen could potentially cause disease or the vaccine response could be blunted. Giving a live vaccine only two weeks before may not allow enough time for adequate seroconversion, and starting therapy or vaccinating after therapy increases the risk of adverse events or poor vaccine effectiveness due to suppressed immune function.

Live vaccines should be given four weeks before starting immunosuppressive therapy because they rely on the body's ability to mount a robust immune response to a replicating vaccine organism. Giving them a sufficient lead time allows the immune system to develop protective immunity and reduces the risk of a vaccine-related infection once immunosuppression begins, when the weakened pathogen could potentially cause disease or the vaccine response could be blunted.

Giving a live vaccine only two weeks before may not allow enough time for adequate seroconversion, and starting therapy or vaccinating after therapy increases the risk of adverse events or poor vaccine effectiveness due to suppressed immune function.