Vaccination of children with inflammatory rheumatic diseases
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13112/pc.1078Keywords:
CHILD; ADOLESCENT; VACCINATION; RHEUMATIC DISEASES; PRACTICE GUIDELINEAbstract
Children with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases are exposed to an increased risk of infection with infectious diseases due to the disease itself, as well as treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. Vaccination plays a significant role in the prevention of these diseases. Therefore, it is important to have clear and simple guidelines for vaccinating these patients, which we present in this paper. Shortly, it is necessary to follow the national vaccination calendar, with certain restrictions, primarily in the form of avoiding vaccination with live attenuated vaccines. Vaccination should be planned before the start of treatment with immunosuppressive drugs if possible, as well as vaccinating children in quiet stages of the disease, but in no case should necessary treatment be postponed to carry out vaccination. The specialist who is treating a patient with autoimmune rheumatic disease, in coordination with the patient's primary doctor, should have a key role in planning the implementation of the vaccine. In addition to the vaccines provided by the national vaccination program, seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended, while pneumococcal vaccination should be carried out with a 10- or 13-valent vaccine. Of the live attenuated vaccines, in certain circumstances, the use of a booster dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, as well as the varicella vaccine, could be considered. Vaccination of adolescents against COVID-19 is considered safe and effective.
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