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Should my patient with inflammatory bowel disease on immunosuppressive therapy be vaccinated against influenza virus?
N Narula | DL Yamamura | JK Marshall
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are variants of inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD) for which immunosuppressive therapy is often
required. Immunosuppressed patients are at increased risk for infections,
including vaccine-preventable diseases such as influenza.
Although several guidelines recommend routine influenza immunization
for such patients, recent literature suggests that this patient population
may be inadequately immunized. Current research suggests that
inactivated influenza vaccines are effective, well tolerated and can be
administered safely in most IBD patients. Studies in other immunosuppressed
populations have also demonstrated the safety of inactivated
vaccines. The present article reviews the literature regarding the safety
and efficacy of influenza vaccination in IBD patients receiving immunosuppressive
therapy.
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