Live vaccines are contraindicated in patients treated with which class of biologic agents?

Live vaccines are contraindicated in patients treated with which class of biologic agents?

• A. TNF inhibitors
• B. IL-1 inhibitors
• C. IL-6 inhibitors
• D. JAK inhibitors

Answer: (A)

Blocking TNF-α disrupts the body's ability to contain intracellular pathogens and mount effective granulomatous and cell-mediated responses. Live vaccines contain replicating organisms, so in someone taking TNF inhibitors these vaccine strains can cause vaccine-associated disease or disseminate, posing a real safety risk. This is why live vaccines are avoided in patients on TNF inhibitors. The other biologics also suppress immunity, but the risk of disseminated disease from a live vaccine is most pronounced with TNF blockade due to its central role in granuloma formation and control of intracellular pathogens.

Blocking TNF-α disrupts the body's ability to contain intracellular pathogens and mount effective granulomatous and cell-mediated responses. Live vaccines contain replicating organisms, so in someone taking TNF inhibitors these vaccine strains can cause vaccine-associated disease or disseminate, posing a real safety risk. This is why live vaccines are avoided in patients on TNF inhibitors. The other biologics also suppress immunity, but the risk of disseminated disease from a live vaccine is most pronounced with TNF blockade due to its central role in granuloma formation and control of intracellular pathogens.