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Additional Information
Because of age, health conditions, or other factors, some people should not get certain vaccines or should wait before getting them. Read the guidelines below for each vaccine.
On this Page:
Some people should not get adenovirus vaccine.
A woman who learns she was pregnant when she got the vaccine, or becomes pregnant within 6 weeks after vaccination, should contact the Adenovirus Vaccine Pregnancy Registry at 1-866-790-4549. This will help us learn how pregnant women and their babies respond to the vaccine.
Note: Adenovirus vaccine is approved for use only among military personnel.
This information was taken directly from the Adenovirus VIS[PDF - 59 KB]
(This information taken from Adenovirus VIS dated 7/14/11. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
This information was taken directly from the Anthrax VIS[PDF - 72 KB]
(This information taken from Anthrax VIS dated 3/10/10. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Ask your health care provider for more information. Some of these children should not get another dose of pertussis vaccine, 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 DTaP VIS[PDF - 59 KB]
(This information taken from DTaP VIS dated 5/17/07. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
This information was taken directly from the Hepatitis A VIS[PDF - 79 KB]
(This information taken from Hepatitis A VIS dated 10/25/11. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Your doctor can give you more information about these precautions.
Note: You might be asked to wait 28 days before donating blood after getting hepatitis B vaccine. This is because the screening test could mistake vaccine in the bloodstream (which is not infectious) for hepatitis B infection.
This information was taken directly from the Hepatitis B VIS[PDF - 166 KB]
(This information taken from Hepatitis B VIS dated 2/2/12. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.
This information was taken directly from the Hib VIS[PDF - 65 KB]
(This information taken from Hib VIS dated 12/16/98. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Any woman who learns she was pregnant when she got this HPV vaccine is encouraged to contact the manufacturer’s HPV in pregnancy registry at 888-452-9622. This will help us learn how pregnant women respond to the vaccine.
This information was taken directly from the HPV-Cervarix VIS[PDF - 37 KB]
(This information taken from HPV VIS dated 5/3/11. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Any woman who learns she was pregnant when she got this HPV vaccine is encouraged to contact the manufacturer’s HPV in pregnancy registry at 800-986-8999. This will help us learn more about how pregnant women respond to the vaccine.
This information was taken directly from the HPV-Gardasil VIS[PDF - 159 KB]
(This information taken from HPV VIS dated 2/22/12. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Some people should not get inactivated influenza vaccine or should wait.
This information was taken directly from the Inactivated Influenza VIS[PDF - 269 KB]
(This information taken from Inactivated Influenza VIS dated 7/2/12. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Some people should not receive LAIV.
LAIV is not recommended for everyone. The following people should get the inactivated vaccine (flu shot) instead:
Tell your doctor if you have any severe (life-threatening) allergies, including a severe allergy to eggs. A severe allergy to any vaccine component may be a reason not to get the vaccine. Allergic reactions to influenza vaccine are rare.
Tell your doctor if you ever had a severe reaction after a dose of influenza vaccine.
Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré syndrome (a severe paralytic illness also called GBS). Your doctor will help you decide whether the vaccine is recommended for you.
Tell your doctor if you have gotten any other vaccines in the past 4 weeks.
Anyone with a nasal condition serious enough to make breathing difficult, such as a very stuffy nose, should get the flu shot instead.
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 about whether to reschedule the vaccination. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.
This information was taken directly from the Live Influenza VIS[PDF - 275 KB]
(This information taken from Live Influenza VIS dated 7/2/12. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
If you will be traveling for fewer than 30 days, especially if you will be staying in major urban areas, tell your doctor. You may be at lower risk and not need the vaccine.
This information was taken directly from the Japanese Encephalitis VIS[PDF - 66 KB]
(This information taken from Japanese Encephalitis VIS dated 12/7/11. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Any of these might be a reason to not get the vaccine, or delay vaccination until later.
This information was taken directly from the MMR VIS[PDF - 191 KB]
(This information taken from MMR VIS dated 4/20/12. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Children who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting MMRV vaccine. Children who are only mildly ill may usually get the vaccine.
Ask your provider for more information.
This information was taken directly from the MMRV VIS[PDF - 242 KB]
(This information taken from MMRV VIS dated 5/21/10. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Except for children with sickle cell disease or without a working spleen, meningococcal vaccines may be given at the same time as other vaccines.
This information was taken directly from the Meningococcal VIS[PDF - 78 KB]
(This information taken from Meningococcal VIS dated 10/14/11. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Children should not get PCV13 if they had a serious (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine, to PCV7, or to any vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid (for example, DTaP).
Children who are known to have a severe allergy to ay component of PCV7 or PCV13 should not get PCV13. Tell your healthcare provider if your child 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 PCV13 VIS[PDF - 54 KB]
(This information taken from PCV13 VIS dated 4/16/10. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
This information was taken directly from the PPSV VIS[PDF - 125 KB]
(This information taken from PPSV VIS dated 10/6/09. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
These people should not get IPV:
These people should wait:
Ask your health care provider for more information.
This information was taken directly from the IPV VIS[PDF - 68 KB]
(This information taken from IPV VIS dated 11/08/11. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
If you have a minor illness, 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.
If you have been exposed to rabies virus, you should get the vaccine regardless of any other illnesses you may have.
This information was taken directly from the Rabies VIS[PDF - 128 KB]
(This information taken from Rabies VIS dated 10/6/09. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
This information was taken directly from the Rotavirus VIS[PDF - 113 KB]
(This information taken from Rotavirus VIS dated 12/6/10. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
See also: MMWR, Addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency as a Contraindication for Administration of Rotavirus VaccinePosted June 2010
A person should not get shingles vaccine who:
Someone with a minor acute illness, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. But anyone with a moderate or severe acute illness should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101.3° F or higher.
This information was taken directly from the Shingles VIS[PDF - 132 KB]
(This information taken from Shingles VIS dated 10/6/09. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
This medication guide replaces the Smallpox VIS. It is to be used before one receives the vaccination. Medical Guide for vaccination with ACAM2000[PDF - 85 KB] (10/1/09)
Anyone who has a moderate or severe illness on the day the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting Tdap or Td vaccine. A person with a mild illness or low fever can usually be vaccinated.
This information was taken directly from the Td-Tdap VIS[PDF - 208 KB]
(This information taken from Td-Tdap VIS dated 1/24/12. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Inactivated Typhoid Vaccine (Shot)
- Should not be given to children younger than 2 years of age.
- Anyone who has had a severe reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine should not get another dose.
- Anyone who has a severe allergy to any component of this vaccine should not get it. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
- Anyone who is moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine.
Live Typhoid Vaccine (Oral)
- Should not be given to children younger than 6 years of age.
- Anyone who has had a severe reaction to a previous dose of this vaccine should not get another dose.
- Anyone who has a severe allergy to any component of this vaccine should not get it. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
- Anyone who is moderately or severely ill at the time the vaccine is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting it. Tell your doctor if you have an illness involving vomiting or diarrhea.
- Anyone whose immune system is weakened should not get this vaccine. They should get the typhoid shot instead. This includes 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 radiation or drugs.
- Oral typhoid vaccine should not be given until at least 3 days after taking antibiotics.
Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.
This information was taken directly from the Typhoid VIS[PDF - 188 KB]
(This information taken from Typhoid VIS dated 5/29/12. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Ask your provider for more information.
This information was taken directly from the Varicella VIS[PDF - 59 KB]
(This information taken from Varicella VIS dated 3/13/08. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Your doctor will help you decide whether you can receive the vaccine.
If you cannot get the vaccine for medical reasons but require proof of yellow fever vaccination for travel, your doctor can give you a waiver letter if he considers the risk acceptably low. If you plan to use a waiver, you should also contact the embassy of the countries you plan to visit for more information.
This information was taken directly from the Yellow Fever VIS[PDF - 64 KB]
(This information taken from Yellow Fever VIS dated 3/30/11. If the actual VIS is more recent than this date, the information on this page needs to be updated.)
Accessibility Note: All .pdf links provided on this page are available in text-only format for text reader devices on the main VIS page.
Last syndicated: February 15, 2013
This content is brought to you by: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)