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Speaker summarizes best vaccine practices for patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases
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CLEVELAND — At the Biologic Therapies VII Summit, Kevin L. Winthrop, MD, MPH, associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University, reviewed the best vaccine practices for patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
“We do not do a good job of vaccinating,” Winthrop said. “Only 50% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were given the pneumonia vaccine. If you look at a yearly basis, only half are getting it. Patients do not get vaccinated as much as they should.”
Winthrop said the best time to vaccinate is before initiation of methotrexate, tofacitinib and biologics. If that is not possible, then rheumatologists should still vaccinate patients.
For the flu, rheumatology patients should receive only inactivated vaccines, Winthrop said.
He discussed the increased risk of shingles for patients who take prednisone or Janus kinase inhibitors. He cited a study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism that showed how point-of-care reminders increased the vaccination rate.
He mentioned how future research needs to focus on clinical effectiveness data and shingles prevention with Zostavax and another upcoming vaccine.
“Shingles prevention is still a moving target.” Winthrop said. “We are making some headway with Zostavax, and we will see about this new vaccine and see if it is useful.” – by Will Offit
Reference:
Winthrop KL. Vaccinations: Timing and targets for the rheumatologist. Presented at: Biologic Therapies VII Summit; April 4-8, 2017; Cleveland.
Disclosure: Winthrop reports consulting for and receiving a research grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb and he reports consulting for AbbVie, Galapagos, Genentech/Roche, Lilly, Pfizer and UCB.