Any health care professionals (or anyone really!) know if there is a consensus on the safety of administering live vaccines? I'm a pharmacist and work for a chain that is big on vaccine services. The other day, an intern and I were talking about handling unsafe drugs during pregnancy, and she mentioned me not being able to administer live vaccines. Apparently she worked with a pharmacist who wouldn't do zoster while pregnant. I'd never considered this.
I can't find anything on it, either. I imagine an accidental needle stick with the shingles vaccine would be bad news, and while I've never had a needle stick injury, that doesn't mean it's impossible. Is there any information or guidelines out there? What are any nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and other vaccine givers doing in regards to this?
I have my anatomy scan next week and plan to ask, but I thought I'd come here first!
Re: Safe to administer live vaccines for healthcare professionals?
Edited for words
While anyone of any age can get shingles, it's much more likely to occur when you're older with a weakened immune system. That's why they don't recommend it younger than 50. It might be given off label to certain populations, but that's outside of my area of practice so I can't comment.
I don't believe you or your husband would be indicated for it, nor would it be warranted. The risk of either of you developing shingles and passing it on to the child before he or she is immunized is pretty remote.
I hope that helps!
Edited because grammar is hard.
I give live flu mists and I just wear gloves and a mask when I do it. The other 20 vaccines we have I don't have to worry about because they aren't live.
Actually is rotateq live? If so its oral anyway but I should look into that one
Edit: crap I just looked up MMR and Varicella and from what I gathered those are live. Whoops
I think the oral polio one and rotavirus are live too, but I usually refer anyone who wants one to our travel center pharmacies because I completely forget everything about them
Question, just bc I always like being informed. I know it's not recommended, but what were to happen if a pregnant woman were exposed to a live vaccine? Is it just a small risk to the fetus or is it likely something would actually happen? Should pregnant women avoid others who have recently gotten live vaccines such as how immune compromised people have to? Just curious!
Thanks.
Also, the only reason pregnant women aren't recommended to have live vaccines is because of the theoretical risk to the fetus, not because they have been proven dangerous. So, pregnant women who accidentally receive a live vaccine shouldn't panic, and it's certainly no reason to terminate a pregnancy. ACOG addresses this a bit in their guidance on Tdap vaccine during pregnancy:
https://m.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Update-on-Immunization-and-Pregnancy-Tetanus-Diphtheria-and-Pertussis-Vaccination?IsMobileSet=true
Hope this helps!
But seriously, don't get the smallpox vaccine if you don't have to. It's better than having smallpox, obviously, but don't go volunteer to get stabbed with the same needle 15 times just for the ugly scar it'll leave you.
Edit because it's late and grammar is hard
The merk drug rep came in to my work today, strangely enough. She said the only risk with administering is, like we thought , a needle stick. She brushed that risk off if you've had chicken pox.
I'll still ask my ob, but that's the info I've got for now for others in the same boat.
I've heard anthrax and smallpox are horrible vaccines! Sorry to those who serve and have to get it. Thanks a ton for your service though!!