title: Immunization practices in solid organ transplant recipients.
abstract: Vaccine-preventable diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant recipients who undergo immunosuppression after transplantation. The primary strategy for immunizing transplant recipients is to deliver all potential vaccines prior to transplantation. However, time constraints limit the number of vaccines that may be delivered. In such cases, the administration of live attenuated vaccines that are contraindicated after transplantation should be prioritized. Simultaneous vaccination is also encouraged to maximize the number of vaccines delivered. Immunity induced by both inactivated and live vaccines wane after transplantation. The limited but available evidence suggests that immunization using inactivated vaccines in transplant recipients is both effective and safe. An increasing number of studies also suggest that once patients are under minimal immunosuppression, live attenuated vaccines may be given effectively and safely. The need for serologic monitoring and booster immunizations remain issues for future research.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: miyairi-i@ncchd.go.jp.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miyairi
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Funaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saitoh
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated
keywords: Immunosuppression; Inactivated vaccine; Live attenuated vaccine; Solid organ transplantation