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EULAR recommendations for vaccination in paediatric patients with rheumatic diseases

M W Heijstek1, L M Ott de Bruin, M Bijl

  • 1Department of Paediatric Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Room KC 03.063.0, PO Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.w.heijstek@umcutrecht.nl

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|August 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Vaccination guidelines for children with rheumatic diseases (PaedRD) were established using EULAR procedures. Further research is needed on vaccine safety and effectiveness in this vulnerable pediatric population.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology
  • Vaccinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Paediatric patients with rheumatic diseases (PaedRD) are at increased risk of infections.
  • Standardized vaccination protocols are crucial for managing this population.
  • Existing guidelines require updates based on current evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop evidence-based vaccination recommendations for paediatric patients with rheumatic diseases (PaedRD).
  • To synthesize current literature on vaccine safety and efficacy in this cohort.
  • To identify research gaps in paediatric rheumatology vaccination.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and major rheumatology conference abstracts (2008/9).
  • EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology) standardised guideline development procedures.
  • Delphi voting by a multidisciplinary task force to achieve consensus.

Main Results:

  • Fifteen recommendations for vaccination in PaedRD were developed with 91.7% overall agreement.
  • Literature primarily focused on seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.
  • Limited studies specifically addressed paediatric populations, with a focus on adult rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Conclusions:

  • Evidence-based vaccination recommendations for PaedRD have been established.
  • Significant research gaps exist regarding the safety and immunogenicity of vaccinations, especially live-attenuated vaccines and in patients on biologicals.
  • Further investigation is required to understand the impact of vaccination on infection prevention in PaedRD.

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