Vaccination vs. chronic diseases

There is a misconception that chronic diseases are a contraindication to vaccination. In fact, the opposite is true: having such diseases makes the immune system especially vulnerable, so getting vaccinated is particularly important.

For patients with diabetes, asthma, heart, kidney or autoimmune conditions, infectious diseases pose a much greater threat than they do to healthy people. They can trigger a dangerous flare-up of the underlying disease or lead to hospitalization.

For example, measles can cause pneumonia in people living with HIV, the flu virus also increases the risk of developing pneumonia in people with asthma, and pneumococcal disease is dangerous for people whose spleen has been removed.

So which vaccinations are we talking about? First and foremost, all vaccinations on the National Immunization Schedule. It is also worth considering getting recommended vaccinations.

✅ Pneumococcal vaccination and an annual flu shot are recommended for people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as for patients with cystic fibrosis, etc.

The same protection is needed for people with diabetes of any type, cardiovascular conditions, those who have received a cochlear implant, people with diseases of or without a spleen, and those with immunodeficiency conditions.

✅ Vaccination against hepatitis A and B is extremely important for people with liver diseases, blood-clotting disorders, anemia, or those who need dialysis. Patients with immunodeficiencies are also at higher risk of developing chronic hepatitis B if infected. In the latter case, they should also be vaccinated against meningococcal disease.

One key nuance is important to keep in mind: patients with certain immunodeficiencies must not be given live vaccines. These include vaccines against chickenpox, BCG, rotavirus infection, oral polio vaccine, etc. The specific vaccine must be selected solely following a doctor's consultation.

Chronic diseases are not a reason to refuse protection. On the contrary, they are a clear indication not only for mandatory vaccinations, but also for additional vaccinations based on health status.