IBD and Vaccinations:

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) often requires medication which are considered immunosuppressive to treat. Oftentimes, the question of vaccination is addressed. 

 

The general rule is that patients SHOULD NOT receive live vaccines. This is for 2 main reasons:

1. Immunosuppression may cause the body to not mount a response against the vaccine components, making it ineffective

2. Immunosuppression may cause the body to be unable to mount a defense against some vaccines which have weaker strands of virulent organisms

 

If it is determined that a live vaccine is indicated for you, please contact your Gastroenterologist. You will be required to stop taking the immunosuppressive medications for at least 3 months before receiving the vaccine and only restart it 3 weeks after the vaccine. This will enable closer monitoring for flares. 

 

Prior to the visit:

Before seeing your gastroenterologist/ family doctor, you may be given a requisition to complete some bloodwork. This is to determine if you have an existing infection or immunity from previous vaccinations 

 

What kind of vaccines should I receive?

Reach out to your family doctor or local pharmacy for the following vaccinations: 

1. Annual Influenza

2. Pneumococcal 

3. Shingrix: This vaccine is generally recommended for individuals above the age of 50 who do not have evidence of immunity on blood tests

4. COVID Vaccinations: This vaccine is generally recommended barring certain circumstances. Please see our article on COVID Vaccinations in IBD for more information.

5. MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella) Booster: This live vaccine can be considered if a patient’s IBD is stable and are not on any immunosuppressive medication. 

6. HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) Vaccine

7. Hepatitis B Vaccine

8. Hemophilus influenza B

9. Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) Vaccine

 

Reference for additional reading: 

1. Benchimol EI, Tse F, Carroll MW, deBruyn JC, McNeil SA, Pham-Huy A et. al. Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Clinical Practice Guideline for Immunizations in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - Part 1: Live vaccines. JCAG. 2021 Jul;4(4):e59-71. DOI: 10.1093/jcag/gwab015

2. Jones JL, Tse F, Carroll MW, deBruyn JC, McNeil SA, Pham-Huy A et. al. Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Clinical Practice Guideline for Immunizations in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - Part 2: Inactivated Vaccines. JAAG. 2021 Jul;4(4):e72-91. DOI: 10.1093/jcag/gwab016