Receiving a Vaccine While Sick

Receiving a Vaccine While Sick

  • If you or your child has a mild illness, it is not a reason to reschedule your vaccination
  • Symptoms of a mild illness include:
    • A low grade fever (lower than 101°F)
    • Mild indigestion or diarrhea
    • Runny nose
    • Coughing or sneezing
    • Headache
  • A common misconception is that sick patients will not have an effective immune system to build immunity for the vaccine if their immune system is overworked
    • With the specificity of the immune system, different cells respond to different infections and immunity will be conferred in the individual 
  • Those with a serious illness may not be able to receive certain vaccinations
    • Chronic health conditions (Cancer, PIDD)
    • Immunocompromised (Chemotherapy, immunosuppressants from surgery or transplantation, HIV)
    • Allergic reactions to known ingredients in the vaccine (rare)
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