Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Vaccinations after a Splenectomy | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
What vaccinations are safe to receive if you have had your spleen removed?
— Lea27 in Florida | | | ANSWER |
May 14, 2001 | | | Dear Lea27,
The answer to your question depends on why the spleen was removed. In general, if the spleen was removed from an otherwise healthy person because it was injured (e.g., in a car accident), it is safe to get all of the routine childhood vaccines.
On the other hand, in most cases, live virus vaccines (e.g., chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella--or MMR) should not be given if the spleen was removed because of a malignancy (such as lymphoma) or because of some other condition that requires immunosuppressive treatment (e.g., steroids). However, DTaP, inactivated polio, hepatitis B, pneumococcal, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines are perfectly safe.
You should know that the spleen plays a particularly important role in protecting against certain kinds of organisms including pneumococci, meningococci, and Hib, which can cause infections of the bloodstream (sepsis) and brain (meningitis), as well as other parts of the body (e.g., pneumonia). These diseases are very serious in any child, but they tend to be more common, more severe and have a greater risk of causing permanent damage or death after a splenectomy. Since pneumococcal, meningococcal, and Hib vaccines are quite safe, they should be given very high priority for individuals who have had their spleens removed.
The bottom line is that people who have had their spleen removed should work closely with their providers to be sure that they are properly immunized.
— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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