Vaccines & Preventable Diseases:

Who Should NOT Get Vaccinated with these Vaccines?

Anthrax vaccine

Some people should not get anthrax vaccine or should wait.

Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of anthrax vaccine should not get another dose. Anyone who has recovered from cutaneous (skin) anthrax should not get the vaccine. Pregnant women should not be routinely vaccinated with anthrax vaccine. This is merely a precaution. There is no evidence that the vaccine is harmful to either a pregnant woman or her unborn baby. Vaccination may be recommended for pregnant women who have been exposed, or are likely to be exposed, to anthrax. There is no reason to delay childbearing after either the man or the woman gets anthrax vaccine. Vaccines, including anthrax vaccine, are safe to give to breast-feeding women.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

DTaP vaccine (Diphtheria, Tetanus, & acellular Pertussis)

Some children should not get DTaP vaccine or should wait.

Children with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. But children who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting DTaP vaccine.

Any child who had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of DTaP should not get another dose.

Talk with your doctor if your child:

• had a seizure or collapsed after a dose of DTaP
• cried non-stop for 3 hours or more after a dose of DTaP
• had a fever of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher after a dose of DTaP.

Ask your health care provider for more information. Some of these children should not get another dose of pertussis, but may get a vaccine without pertussis, called DT.

DTaP should not be given to anyone 7 years of age or older.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Hepatitis A vaccine

Some people should not get hepatitis A vaccine or should wait.

Anyone who has ever had a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a previous dose of hepatitis A vaccine should not get another dose.

Anyone who has a severe (life threatening) allergy to any vaccine component should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies. All hepatitis A vaccines contain alum and some hepatitis A vaccines contain 2-phenoxyethanol.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Hepatitis B vaccine

Some people should not get hepatitis B vaccine or should wait.

People should not get hepatitis B vaccine if they have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to baker's yeast (the kind used for making bread) or to a previous dose of hepatitis B vaccine.

People who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting hepatitis B vaccine.

Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Hib vaccine

Some people should not get Hib vaccine or should wait.

People who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of Hib vaccine should not get another dose.

Children less than 6 weeks of age should not get Hib vaccine.

People who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting Hib vaccine.

Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine

Some girls or women should not get H.P.V. vaccine or should wait.

Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to yeast, to any other component of HPV vaccine, or to a previous dose of HPV. vaccine should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if the person getting the vaccine has any severe allergies.

Pregnant women should not get the vaccine. The vaccine appears to be safe for both the mother and the unborn baby, but it is still being studied. Receiving HPV vaccine when pregnant is not a reason to consider terminating the pregnancy. Women who are breast feeding may safely get the vaccine.

Any woman who learns that she was pregnant when she got HPV vaccine is encouraged to call the HPV vaccine in pregnancy registry at 800-986-8999.

Information from this registry will help us learn how pregnant women respond to the vaccine.

People who are mildly ill when the shot is scheduled can still get HPV vaccine. People with moderate or severe illnesses should wait until they recover.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Influenza (inactivated) vaccine

Some people should not get inactivated influenza vaccine or should wait before getting it.

• Tell your doctor if you have any severe (life-threatening) allergies. Allergic reactions to influenza vaccine are rare.
• Influenza vaccine virus is grown in eggs. People with a severe egg allergy should not get the vaccine.
• A severe allergy to any vaccine component is also a reason to not get the vaccine.
• If you have had a severe reaction after a previous dose of influenza vaccine, tell your doctor.
• Inactivated influenza vaccine is not approved in children younger than 6 months of age. NEW Nov 2008
• Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called G.B.S.). You may be able to get the vaccine, but your doctor should help you make the decision.
• People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting flu vaccine. If you are ill, talk to your doctor or nurse about whether to reschedule the vaccination. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Influenza (live) vaccine

LAIV is not licensed for everyone. LAIV is licensed for healthy persons aged 2-49 years who are not pregnant. The following people should check with their healthcare provider about getting the inactivated vaccine (flu shot), instead of LAIV. UPDATED Nov 2008

• Adults 50 years of age or older or children younger than 2 years. UPDATED Nov 2008
• People who have long-term health problems with:
  • heart disease
  • kidney disease
  • lung disease
  • metabolic disease, such as diabetes
  • asthma
  • sickle cell diseases, and other blood disorders
  • diseases that place one at risk of aspiration
• People with a weakened immune system.
• Children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment.
• Pregnant women.
• Anyone with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called G.B.S.).

Inactivated influenza vaccine (the flu shot) is the preferred vaccine for people (including health-care workers, and family members) coming in close contact with anyone who has a severely weakened immune system (that is, anyone who requires care in a protected environment).

Some people should talk with a doctor before getting either influenza vaccine:

• Anyone who has ever had a serious allergic reaction to eggs or to a previous dose of influenza vaccine.
• People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting flu vaccine. If you are ill, talk to your doctor or nurse about whether to reschedule the vaccination. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

JE (Japanese Encephalitis) vaccine

Who should not get Japanese encephalitis vaccine?

Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening reaction to mouse protein, thimerosal, or to a previous dose of J.E. vaccine.

Tell your doctor if you have severe allergies, especially a history of allergic rash (hives) or wheezing after a wasp sting or taking medications, are pregnant, or are a nursing mother, will be traveling for fewer than 30 days, especially if you will be in major urban areas. (You may be at lower risk for Japanese encephalitis and not need the vaccine.)

This information was taken directly from the VIS

MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella ) vaccine

Some people should not get MMR vaccine or should wait.

• People should not get MMR vaccine who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or to a previous dose of MMR vaccine.
• People who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting MMR vaccine.
• Pregnant women should wait to get MMR vaccine until after they have given birth. Women should avoid getting pregnant for 4 weeks after getting MMR vaccine.
• Some people should check with their doctor about whether they should get MMR vaccine, including anyone who:
  • Has HIV/AIDS, or another disease that affects the immune system
  • Is being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for 2 weeks or longer.
  • Has any kind of cancer
  • Is taking cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
  • Has ever had a low platelet count (a blood disorder)
• People who recently had a transfusion or were given other blood products should ask their doctor when they may get MMR vaccine

Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Meningococcal vaccine

Some people should not get meningococcal vaccine or should wait.

People should not get meningococcal vaccine if they have ever had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine.

People who are mildly ill at the time the shot is scheduled can still get meningococcal vaccine. People with moderate or severe illnesses should usually wait until they recover. Your provider can advise you.

Meningococcal vaccine may be given to pregnant women.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

PCV7 (Pneumococcal Conjugate) vaccine

Some children should not get pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or should wait.

Children should not get pneumococcal conjugate vaccine if they had a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine, or have a severe allergy to a vaccine component. Tell your health-care provider if your child has ever had a severe reaction to any vaccine, or has any severe allergies.

Children with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. But children who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

PPV23 (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide) vaccine

Facts about people who should or should not get the vaccine:

• Otherwise healthy children who often get ear infections, sinus infections, or other upper respiratory diseases do not need to get PPV because of these conditions.

• PPV may be less effective in some people, especially those with lower resistance to infection. But these people should still be vaccinated, because they are more likely to get seriously ill from pneumococcal disease.

• Pregnancy: The safety of PPV for pregnant women has not yet been studied. There is no evidence that the vaccine is harmful to either the mother or the fetus, but pregnant women should consult with their doctor before being vaccinated. Women who are at high risk of pneumococcal disease should be vaccinated before becoming pregnant, if possible.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Polio vaccine

These people should not get IPV:

• Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to the antibiotics neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B should not get the polio shot.
• Anyone who has a severe allergic reaction to a polio shot should not get another one.

These people should wait:

• Anyone who is moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting polio vaccine. People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated.

Ask your health care provider for more information.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Rabies vaccine

Talk with a doctor before getting rabies vaccine if you:

1. ever had a serious (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a previous dose of rabies vaccine, or to any component of the vaccine,
2. have a weakened immune system because of:
   • HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system,
   • treatment with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids,
   • cancer, or cancer treatment with radiation or drugs.

If you have a minor illnesses, such as a cold, you can be vaccinated. If you are moderately or severely ill, you should probably wait until you recover before getting a routine (non-exposure) dose of rabies vaccine.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Rotavirus vaccine

Some children should not get rotavirus vaccine or should wait.

A child who has had a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a dose of rotavirus vaccine should not get another dose. A child who has a severe (life threatening) allergy to any component of rotavirus vaccine should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if your child has any severe allergies that you know of.

Children who are moderately or severely ill at the time the vaccination is scheduled should probably wait until they recover. This includes children who have diarrhea or vomiting. Ask your doctor or nurse. Children with mild illnesses should usually get the vaccine.

Check with your doctor if your child has any ongoing digestive problems.

Check with your doctor if your child's immune system is weakened because of:

• HIV AIDS, or any other disease that affects the immune system
• treatment with drugs such as long-term steroids
• cancer, or cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs

Check with your doctor if your child recently had a blood transfusion or received any other blood product (such as immune globulin).

In the late 1990s a different type of rotavirus vaccine was used. This vaccine was found to be associated with an uncommon type of bowel obstruction called "intussusception," and was taken off the market.

The new rotavirus vaccine has been tested with more than 70,000 children and has not been associated with intussusception.

However, once a person has had intussusception, from any cause, they are at higher risk for getting it again. So as a precaution, it is suggested that if a child has had intussusception they should not get rotavirus vaccine.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Shingles (Herpes Zoster) vaccine

Some people should not get shingles vaccine or should wait.

A person should not get shingles vaccine who:

• has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of shingles vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.

  has a weakened immune system because of:

• HIV AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system,
• treatment with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids,
• cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy,
• a history of cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, such as leukemia or lymphoma,
• has active, untreated tuberculosis,
• is pregnant, or might be pregnant. Women should not become pregnant until at least three months after getting shingles vaccine.

Someone with a minor illness, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. But anyone who is moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101 point 3 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Smallpox (Vaccinia) vaccine

There are too many conditions and risk factors to list accurately on this page. Please consult the Smallpox Vaccine Information Statement.

Td (Adult Tetanus & Diphtheria) vaccine

To make a proper diagnosis of whether a person should or should not get the Td vaccine, tell your doctor or nurse if the person getting the vaccine:

• ever had a serious allergic reaction or other problem
  with Td, or any other tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (DTP, DTaP or DT)
• now has a moderate or severe illness
• is pregnant

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Tdap vaccine (Combined Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis)

Some people should not get Tdap vaccine or should wait.

Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of DTP, DTaP, DT, or Td vaccine should not get TDAP.

Anyone who has a severe allergy to any component of the vaccine should not get Tdap. Tell your health-care provider if the person getting the vaccine has any known severe allergies.

Talk with your doctor if the person getting the vaccine has a severe allergy to latex. Some Tdap vaccines should not be given to people with a severe latex allergy.

Anyone who went into a coma or had a long seizure within 7 days after a dose of DTP or DTaP should not get Tdap, unless a cause other than the vaccine was found.

Talk to your doctor if the person getting the vaccine:

• has epilepsy or another nervous system problem,

• had severe swelling or severe pain after a previous dose of any vaccine containing tetanus, diphtheria or pertussis,
• has had Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS).

Anyone who has a moderate or severe illness on the day the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. Those with a mild illness or low fever can usually be vaccinated.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Typhoid vaccine

Some people should not get typhoid vaccine or should wait.

Inactivated Typhoid Vaccine (Shot)
Anyone who has had a severe reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine should not get another dose

Live Typhoid Vaccine (Oral)

• Anyone who has had a severe reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine should not get another dose.
• Anyone whose immune system is weakened should not get this vaccine. They should get the inactivated typhoid vaccine instead. These people include anyone who:
  • Has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system.
  • Is being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for 2 weeks or longer.
  • Has any kind of cancer.
  • Is taking cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs.

• Oral typhoid vaccine should not be given within 24 hours of certain antibiotics.

Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine

Some people should not get chickenpox vaccine or should wait.

• People should not get chickenpox vaccine if they have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or a previous dose of chickenpox vaccine.
• People who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting chickenpox vaccine.
• Pregnant women should wait to get chickenpox vaccine until after they have given birth. Women should not get pregnant for 1 month after getting chickenpox vaccine.
• Some people should check with their doctor about whether they should get chickenpox vaccine, including anyone who:
  • Has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
  • Is being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for 2 weeks or longer
  • Has any kind of cancer
  • Is taking cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
  • People who recently had a transfusion or were given other blood products should ask their doctor when they may get chickenpox vaccine.
  Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

Yellow Fever vaccine

Some people should not get Yellow Fever vaccine.

Persons who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to eggs, chicken, gelatin or to a previous yellow fever vaccine.

Infants younger than 9 months of age. For infants 6 to 8 months of age who cannot avoid travel to a yellow fever area, discuss vaccination with their doctor. Under no circumstances should infants younger than 6 months of age be vaccinated.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid or postpone travel to a yellow fever area. If travel cannot be avoided, discuss vaccination with your doctor.

Check with your doctor before getting yellow fever vaccine if you:

• Have a history of allergy to eggs, chicken, or gelatin
• Have HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
• Have been under treatment for 2 weeks or longer with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids
• Have any kind of cancer

• Are taking cancer treatment with X-rays or drugs
• Your thymus gland has been removed, or if you have a history of problems with your thymus, such as myasthenia gravis, DiGeorge syndrome, or thymoma.

If you are 65 or older, discuss with your physician the risks and benefits of vaccination in the context of your risk for exposure to yellow fever virus based on your destination.

If you cannot get the vaccine because of a medical reason and proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for your travel, your doctor can give you a waiver letter. When planning to use a waiver letter, you should also obtain specific advice from the embassy of the country or countries you plan to visit.

If you cannot get the vaccine, discuss with your doctor other ways to prevent yellow fever.

This information was taken directly from the VIS

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