Immunizations are crucial in those with autoimmune or auto-inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) for preventing infections as they have a higher risk of infection. However, a vaccination schedule for kids with pedAIIRD must take into account their disease activity, existing treatments, and infection risk in addition to the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines.

The first guidelines for immunizing kids against pedAIIRD were developed by the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) in 2011. Currently, a multidisciplinary task committee from 9 European countries established the updated EULAR recommendations.

According to the guiding principles, vaccinations should ideally be given during quiescent disease and evaluated annually by the treating doctor. Immunizations should ideally be given 2-4 weeks before the start of immunosuppression, but there should be no delay in receiving necessary medical care.

The updated recommendations have been streamlined in comparison to the 2011 version. It includes vaccination against MMR, varicella, seasonal flu, pneumococcus, tetanus, human papilloma virus, and yellow fever.

These guidelines are intended to assist paediatricians, rheumatologists, general practitioners, national immunization agencies, patients, and national societies in providing safe and effective immunization and achieving the highest level of infection prevention in immunocompromised children with AIIRDs.

 (Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221028/Update-Vaccination-in-children-with-AIIRD.aspx)