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July 28, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“In a Rush?  It’s OK to Double Up on Shots”

Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com) (07/27/03) P. L9; Doheny, Kathleen

A team of German researchers has found that travelers who need several vaccinations all at once before they leave on their trips can receive the vaccines without worrying about significant side effects.  Published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, a study has demonstrated that while side effects can increase when patients take many vaccines in a short period of time, the side effects are not known to be very significant or debilitating.  Lead researcher Dr. Tomas Jelinek of the University of Munich and colleagues observed 1,035 travelers who had one or more vaccinations before going abroad, receiving inoculations against such diseases as yellow fever, hepatitis, typhoid, meningococcal disease, Japanese encephalitis, tetanus, diphtheria, and polio.  The severity of side effects among all vaccine recipients was low, though Jelinek cautioned that people with autoimmune diseases like lupus and Graves’ disease should be careful, as stimulation of the immune system by vaccines can cause episodes of their diseases.  [The conclusions from this study were based on a relatively small number of patients.]