Patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disorders (AIRDs) are more likely to develop serious infections and sequelae, especially if they are undergoing immunomodulatory medication. Vaccination is an essential tool for reducing morbidity and death related to AIRD. For a study, researchers sought to give guidelines for immunization of patients with AIRD in Latin America to health care practitioners. Based on a study of the research and their clinical experience, a regional expert group established the recommendations.
The Americas Health Foundation (AHF) searched PubMed and EMBASE for doctors and scientists with an academic or hospital connection who had written in the field of adult immunization and rheumatic illnesses since 2010. As a result of the work, AHF assembled an eight-member panel of Latin American clinical and scientific specialists. The AHF and panel members both undertook a thorough literature review to identify relevant publications in the fields of adult immunization and rheumatology, and the total number of papers found was submitted to the full panel. Before the conference, each panelist was required to write a written answer to an AHF-identified salient problem on the subject.
During the meeting, the entire group revised each response via multiple versions and rounds of discussion until a comprehensive consensus on vaccination recommendations for adult patients with AIRDs, including seven essential recommendations, was reached.
Reference:journals.lww.com/jclinrheum/Fulltext/2018/04000/Vaccination_Recommendations_for_Adults_With.6.aspx
