Live attenuated vaccines in pediatric rheumatic diseases are safe: multicenter retrospective data collection.

Abstract

Common practice is to withhold vaccination with live-attenuated vaccines in patients with rheumatic diseases on high-dose DMARDs, glucocorticosteroids or biological agents, due to limited safety data, and the risk of introducing an infectious disease to the patient. Evidence for this approach is low. We collected data from pediatric rheumatologists who regularly have vaccinated these patients, to obtain additional safety data, which might update and revise such approach. Data from 13 pediatric rheumatology centers in 10 countries were collected and herein discussed