medwireNews: EULAR has developed up-to-date guidelines for the use of vaccinations in patients with rheumatic diseases, based on a systematic literature review and expert opinion.
Since the original 13 recommendations were published in 2011, “the evidence concerning safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccination among patients with AIIRD [autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases] has markedly grown,” and the updated guidelines comprise six overarching principles and nine specific recommendations, say the authors, led by Victoria Furer (Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel).
They explain that the updated recommendations specifically address optimal timing for vaccination, non-live versus live-attenuated vaccines, and rheumatic disease activity.
“In light of the low uptake of vaccination among the AIIRD population worldwide, emphasising the role of the treating rheumatology team in education of patients and other healthcare professionals regarding vaccines benefits should improve the uptake of vaccination,” write Furer and colleagues.
The full set of guidelines is published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
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