Immunization
From IDWiki
Passive and Active
- Passive immunization refers to the transfer of antibodies to confer protection
- Mother-to-child transfer and immunoglobulins are examples
- Hepatitis B
- Chicken pox, that cannot recieve vaccine (in pregnant women, immunocompromised, baby exposed by mom at birth)
- Measles, that cannot recieve vaccine
- Hepatitis A, that cannot recieve vaccine or are high risk (liver disease)
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Active immunization refers to a vaccine intended to provoke an immune response and therefore confer protection
Components
- Immunogen
- Live attenuated: a weakened version of a pathogen that provokes an immune response without causing disease
- Inactivated: killed pathogens, often provoking a weaker immune response than live, and may have problems with injection of unwanted proteins
- Subunit: include proteins, polysaccharides and protein-polysaccharide conjugates
- Polysaccharide antigens aren't particularly immunogenic
- Conjugating polysaccharides to proteins generates a more robust memory response
- Adjuvant
- Additional compound that stimulates immune response
- Canada only uses aluminum salts (aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate or potassium aluminum sulfate)
- Rare side effects include subcutaneous nodules, granulomatous inflammation or contact hypersensitivity
- Preservatives
- Prevent the vaccine from being contaminated with bacteria
- Includes thimerosal, phenol, and 2-phenoxyethanol
- Additives
- May contain trace amount of substances required during the purification process or to confirm vaccine quality
List of Vaccines
Vaccine | Notes |
---|---|
Bacille Calmette-Guérin Vaccine | |
Cholera and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli | |
Diphtheria Toxoid | |
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine | |
Hepatitis A Vaccine | |
Hepatitis B Vaccine | |
Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine | |
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine | |
Influenza Vaccine | |
Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine | |
Measles Vaccine | |
Meningococcal Vaccine | |
Mumps Vaccine | |
Pertussis Vaccine | |
Pneumococcal Vaccine | |
Poliomyelitis Vaccine | |
Rabies Vaccine | |
Rotavirus Vaccine | |
Rubella Vaccine | |
Smallpox Vaccine | |
Tetanus Toxoid | |
Typhoid Vaccine | Toxoid vaccine. |
Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine | |
Yellow Fever Vaccine |
- Live attenuated
- MMR
- Varicella (Zostavax)
- Smallpox
- Oral polio
- Nasal spray influenza
- Killed
- Hep A
- Injectable influenza
- Injectable polio
- Rabies
- Subunit
- Hib
- Hep B
- HPV
- Pertussis, TdAP
- Varicella (Shingrix)
Pathophysiology
- Depends on the specific vaccine
- Generally work by inducing specific IgG serum antibodies
- BCG is the only T-cell-specific vaccine, although T-cell response may contribute to others
- Generally do not elicit a mucosal antibody response, so infection may only be stopped after already infecting a mucosal surface
- Therefore, they do not induce sterilizing immunity
- Antigen-presenting cells are activated by a pathogen and in turn stimulate B and T cell response in the local lymph node
- Live vaccines may travel throughout the body, activating multiple lymph nodes in different sites
- Non-live vaccines only activate APCs that travel to the local lymph node, explaining why they may be given in multiple limbs at once
- Protein antigens trigger T-cells to help to activate B-cells in germinal centres
- It can take a few weeks to produce IgG antibodies
- IgG peaks within 4-6 weeks of primary immunization
- Polysaccharide antigens travel to lymphoid tissue where they bind B cells directly and trigger maturation into plasma cells
- Without germinal centres, memory B cells are not produced
- Need to be coupled to a carrier protein in order to generate a memory response
- Memory B cells require several days to redifferentiate into plasma cells upon reexposure
T-cells
- Th1: IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha to activate response against intracellular pathogens
- Th2: IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 to activate response against extracellular pathogens such as helminths
Vaccination Schedule
- Canada's Provincial and Territorial Routine (and Catch-up) Vaccination Routine Schedule Programs for Infants and Children
- Canadian Immunization Guide: Recommended Immunization Schedules
- Canadian Immunization Guide: Immunization of Persons New to Canada
Adult Vaccination
Pneumococcus
- Conjugate better than polysaccharide
- Prevnar: PC-7, then PC-10 and PC-13
- Conjugated with diphtheria CRM197
- Incremental benefit of vaccinating adults over and above vaccinating children is not high enough to warrant funding the vaccine
- Pneumovax: PS-23
- Prevnar: PC-7, then PC-10 and PC-13
- In age >65 years or other high-risk groups, PC first, then PS 8 weeks later (recommended), though only PS is paid for in Ontario
- For high-risk groups, add a PS booster at 5 years
- If PS-23 already given, wait a year before giving PC-13
Influenza
- Trivalent has H1N1 and H2N3 (both flu A) and a flu B strain
- The quadrivalent adds a second flu B, for children who get more flu B
- The first time someone receives the vaccine, they need a second booster
- The high dose is more effective but more expensive (Fluzone)
- Trivalent vaccine
- 24% increase in efficacy in the elderly (brings up to normal population)
- Ensure that higher risk patients are vaccinated as well as their household
Shingles/Varicella-zoster
- Live attenuated zoster vaccine (Zostavax)
- Can be given if pred <20 mg/d or <14 days, low-dose methotrexate, azathioprine, 6MP, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, etc.
- Recombinatnt glycoprotein vaccine (Shingrix), 2 doses IM 2 months apart
- Protection is at least 3-4 years, possibly longer
Asplenia
- Risk factor for encapsulated organisms: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type B, and Neisseria meningitidis
- Splenectomy, indications include trauma, cancer, ITP
- Also beware functional asplenia as in sickle cell disease and Howell-Jolly bodies
- Highest risk in the first 5 years, but can be up to 20 years out
- 2 weeks before elective or 2 weeks after unplanned emergent
- Recommended vaccines
- Menactra (conjugate ACYW-135) + Bexsero (Men B, but not covered)
- Second dose at 8 weeks, or later if given after splenectomy
- HiB once
- Pill-in-pocket amox/clav or levoflox to take on the way to ED if they get a fever
- Menactra (conjugate ACYW-135) + Bexsero (Men B, but not covered)
- Travel precautions: be careful about babesia in New England (fulminant sepsis and die), as well as malaria
- Dog bites are very high risk for severe Capnocytophaga
- Prophylaxis with amox/clav x5 days
Close Contacts of Immunocompromised Patients
- In general, close contacts should receive all routine vaccines, including rotavirus and annual influenza
- Specific vaccines do have some caveats, however:
- Rotavirus: the immunocompromised patient should not change diapers for 4 weeks after the infant receives their vaccine
- Varicella-zoster virus (live): avoid contact only if the vaccinated household member develops a rash (rare)
- Influenza (live, annual): avoid close contact for 2 weeks after the household member receives their vaccine
- Poliovirus (live, oral): do not immunize close contacts with the live oral polio vaccine
- Smallpox: avoid vaccinating close contacts if at all possible
- Of note, the strains in the MMR vaccine are not transmitted person-to-person, so it is safe for close contacts to be vaccinated with MMR
Catch-Up Immunization
Starting Between 1 and 6 Years
- First visit:
- <4 years: DTaP-IPV-Hib, Pneu-C-13, MMR, Men-C-C
- 4 years: DTaP-IPV-Hib, Pneu-C-13, MMRV, Men-C-C
- 5-6 years: MMRV, DTaP-IPV, Men-C-C
- Second visit, at 2 months
- If child is <5 years at was:
- <15 months at first visit: DTaP=IPV-Hib, Pneu-C-13, Var
- 15-23 months at first visit: Pneu-C-13, DTaP-IPV, Var
- 2-3 years at first visit: DTaP-IPV, Var
- 4 years at first visitDTaP-IPV
- 5-6 years: DTaP-IPV
- 7 years: Tdap-IPV
- If child is <5 years at was:
- Third visit, 2 months after second visit
- <7 years: DTaP-IPV
- 7 years: Tdap
- Fourth visit, 6-12 months after third visit
- <4 years: DTaP-IPV
- 4-8 years: MMRV, Tdap-IPV
- Fifth visit, 6-12 months after fourth visit and 4-6 years of age, only if child was <4 years at fourth visit
- MMRV, Tdap-IPV
- Grade 7: HB, Men-C-ACYW, HPV-4
- 14-16 years: Tdap
- 24-36 years: Tdap
- ≥34 years: Td every 10 years
- 65 years: HZ, Pneu-P-23
Starting Between 7 and 17 years
- First visit
- <13 years: Tdap-IPV, MMRV, Men-C-C
- ≥13 years: Tdap-IPV, MMR, Var
- Second visit, 2 months after first visit
- <13 years: Tdap-IPV, MMRV
- ≥13 years: Tdap-IPV, MMR, Var
- Third visit, 6-12 months after second visit
- Tdap-IPV
- Fourth visit, 10 years after third visit and only if child was <18 years at third visit
- Tdap
- Grade 7: HPV-4
- Grade 7 or 8: HB
- Grade 7-12: Men-C-ACYW
- Grade 8-12: HPV-4
- Every ten years: Td
- 65 years: Pneu-P-23
Starting at 18 Years and Older
- First visit
- Born before 1985: Tdap-IPV, MMR
- Born between 1986 and 1996: Tdap-IPV, MMR, Men-C-C
- Born in or after 1997: Tdap-IPV, MMR, Men-C-ACYW
- Second visit, 2 months after first visit
- 18-25 years: MMR, Td-IPV
- ≥26 years: Td-IPV
- Third visit, 6 to 12 months after second visit: Td-IPV
- Every 10 years: Td
- 65 years: Pneu-P-23
Contraindications
- Anaphylaxis to the vaccine or a component of the vaccine
- GBS within 6 weeks of immunization not attributable to other cause
- Usually deferred in cases of:
- Current or recent acute febrile illness
- Immunosuppressive therapy
- Includes Prednisone ≥20 mg and duration >14 days
- Generally wait at least 4 weeks following high-dose steroids, or up to 6-12 months or more for rituximab and some other biological response modifiers
- For inactivated vaccines, wait 3 months after immunosuppression stops (since they're less immunogenic)
- Pregnancy (live vaccines)
- Live vaccines
- Immunocompromised
- Suspicious family or personal history of immunodeficiency
- Pregnancy (as a precaution)
- Live influenza: severe asthma
- Rotavirus: congenital GI malformation or history of intussusception
- MMR/MMRV/VZV/HZV: active, untreated tuberculosis
- BCG or yellow fever: infant with signs and symptoms of AIDS
Acute Illness
- If significant nasal congestion is present that might impede delivery of LAIV to the nasopharyngeal mucosa, TIV can be administered or LAIV could be deferred until resolution of the illness.
- In infants with moderate-to-severe gastroenteritis, rotavirus vaccine should be deferred until the condition improves unless deferral will result in scheduling of the first dose beyond the recommended age limit.
- Administration of oral cholera and travellers' diarrhea vaccine should be postponed in persons with acute gastrointestinal illness.
IVIg and Transfusion
- IVIg at 2 g/kg, wait 11 months before giving live vaccines
- Even pRBC, should wait 4-5 months
Side Effects
- Common to very common AEFI
- Vaccination site pain and swelling
- Fever
- Fever/rash a week after MMR
- Large local reactions
- Giant red swollen injection site or arm (not cellulitis, just watch and wait)
- Commonly recur, especially tetanus-containing vaccines
- Uncommon AEFI
- Hypotonic-hyporesponsive events (HHE) after infant vaccines (especially pertussis-containing vaccines)
- Lymphadenopathy (MMR)
- Rare AEFI
- Febrile seizure after MMR vaccine
- Very rare AEFI
- Anaphylaxis after any vaccine
- BCG can cause all sorts of things: lymphadenopathy, abscesses, disseminated
Vaccine Hesitancy
- Stay engaged with the patient/parent
- Use presumptive language (e.g. "it's time to give you your immunizations today")
- Use motivational interviewing
- Open-ended question about specific question
- Affirmation
- Reflective listening
- Use clear language to present risks and benefits fairly
- Use framing: "If you decide not to get the HPV vaccine, you increase your risk of getting HPV and cervical cancer" (instead of getting it decreases your risk); "the vaccine is 99% safe" (instead of 1% risk)
- Address pain and fear of pain (for children)
- Emphasize that herd immunity is not a guarantee, especially if there is an outbreak
Further Reading
- WHO: Six common misconceptions about immunization
- CPS: Working with vaccine-hesitant parents: An update