Vaccination and diabetes mellitus type 1 in children

Influence of vaccination on the risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) has been studied by different researchers for several decades. In rodents, vaccination can prevent development of DM1. This review summarises existing literature and discusses the results of a 2016 meta-analysis, pertaining to vaccination and DM1. No vaccines appear to increase the risk of DM1. Additional investigations are needed to determine if vaccines can be considered protective against DM1. Patients with DM1 are at increased risk of morbidities from controllable infections. Children with DM1 should receive regularly-scheduled vaccinations; choice of vaccines and inoculation with non-regular vaccines should be determined on an individual basis. We present basic principles surrounding vaccination in patients with DM1 and analyse the role of the paediatric endocrinologist in increasing vaccination uptake in children with DM1