Vaccination for Children on Biologics

Area of Science:

• Pediatric immunology
• Rheumatology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Biologic drugs are increasingly used for pediatric immune-mediated diseases.
• Children on biologic therapy face a higher risk of infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the safety and immunogenicity of vaccines in children receiving biologic therapy.
• To summarize current knowledge on vaccination in this vulnerable pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent publications and multicenter studies.
• Analysis of data on vaccine safety and immune response in children on biologics.

Main Results:

• The measles, mumps, and rubella/varicella (MMR/V) vaccine booster dose is safe for children with rheumatic diseases on biologic therapy.
• Vaccine immunogenicity in children on biologics is often lower than in healthy children, particularly with long-term follow-up.
• Non-live vaccines are generally recommended, but live-attenuated vaccines may be safely administered based on new data.

Conclusions:

• Children on biologic therapy require vaccination according to national guidelines to mitigate infection risks.
• While immunogenicity can be reduced, available data support the safety of specific live-attenuated vaccines, like the MMR/V booster, in this population.