Vaccinating an Immunocompromised Child

Any illness associated with possible immune dysfunction during childhood requires a decision on the start and/or continuation of ongoing vaccination program according to national guidelines, as well as the decision on possible booster vaccination and vaccination with additional, registered vaccines. It is widely accepted that if a child with presumed or proven immune disorder might benefit from vaccination, this should not be delayed if its application is safe. Children with immune disorders vary in the degree of immunosuppression, susceptibility to infections and immune reactions after vaccination. Besides these, there are certain groups of children with diseases that increase their risk of infectious diseases even in the absence of specific immune disorders. In this article, we discuss the basic principles that should guide decisions for immunization of children with suspected or proven immune system disorder (primary or secondary).