{"id":19542,"date":"2023-12-19T10:46:01","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T23:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mvec.mcri.edu.au\/?post_type=references&p=19542"},"modified":"2025-06-24T08:19:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T22:19:30","slug":"immunosuppression-in-pregnancy-and-infant-vaccine-recommendations","status":"publish","type":"references","link":"https:\/\/mvec.mcri.edu.au\/hi\/references\/immunosuppression-in-pregnancy-and-infant-vaccine-recommendations\/","title":{"rendered":"Immunosuppression in pregnancy and infant vaccine recommendations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Immunosuppressive<\/a> therapies play an important role in the treatment of many medical conditions. Biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are a specific subset of immunosuppressive medications primarily used for the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. However, they are increasingly being used to treat many other conditions.<\/span> \u00a0<\/span>Examples of bDMARDs include a<\/span>dalimumab,<\/span> \u091f\u0940<\/span>ocilizumab,<\/span> etanercept, infliximab and rituximab<\/a>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases, individuals with suppressed immune systems may have an increased risk of developing severe disease <\/span>(and of hospitalisation, intensive care admission and death). However, some vaccines (live-attenuated vaccines) may be contraindicated in individuals with immunosuppression due to the potential risk of vaccine-related disease. Additionally, immune response<\/span>\u090f\u0938<\/span> to vaccines may be suboptimal. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Immunosuppression <\/span>use <\/span>in pregnancy<\/span> \u0914\u0930 <\/span>infant <\/span>
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Due to the broadened scope of use<\/span> \u0915\u093e <\/span>bDMARDs<\/span>, including during pregnancy, there is an increasing number of infants <\/span>exposed to <\/span>bDMARDs<\/span> in utero. The effect that this has on an infant\u2019s immune system is not well understood<\/span>,<\/span> but<\/span> there is<\/span> the<\/span> potential <\/span>\u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f <\/span>significant <\/span>implications <\/span>regarding<\/span> the safe use and effectiveness of routine and <\/span>\u0905\u0924\u093f\u0930\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0924<\/span> vaccines in infants.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Recommendations<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Specific guidance on the immunisation of infants exposed to immunosuppressive therapy in utero or through breastmilk is outlined in the Australian Immunisation Handbook. Access the guidance \u092f\u0939\u093e\u0901<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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