Overarching principles for vaccination in paediatric patients with AIIRD
| Level of agreement (%) | ||
| 1 | The vaccination status, indications for vaccinations in addition to the National Immunisation Programme (NIP), and indications for withholding NIP vaccinations must be assessed yearly by the treating specialist in paediatric patients with AIIRD. | 100% |
| 2 | Vaccinations should preferably be administered during quiescent disease. | 100% |
| 3 | If possible, vaccinations should be administered 2–4 weeks prior to commencement of immunosuppression (especially B-cell depleting therapies), but necessary treatment should never be postponed. | 81% |
| 4 | Adhere to the NIPs and to general rules applying to travels' vaccinations, except for live-attenuated vaccines in all immunosuppressed* patients | 100% |
| 5 | Non-live vaccines can be administered to paediatric AIIRD patients on glucocorticosteroid or DMARD therapy. | 100% |
| 6 | Live-attenuated vaccines should be avoided in immunosuppressed* paediatric patients with AIIRD, except for the MMR booster and varicella vaccination under specific conditions. | 100% |
*Immunosuppressed is further defined in Definitions in the Methods section.
AIIRD, autoimmune/inflammatory rheumatic disease; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; MMR, mumps measles rubella.