Immunizations
ACIP Immunization Contraindications and Precautions
Influenza Vaccine
- Influenza, inactivated (IIV4)
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after previous dose of any influenza vaccine
- Any egg-based IIV, ccIIV, RIV, or LAIV of any valency
- Precautions
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks after a previous dose of any type of influenza vaccine
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
- Influenza, recombinant (RIV4)
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any RIV of any valency, or to any component of RIV4
- Precautions
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks after a previous dose of any type of influenza vaccine
- Persons with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of any egg-based IIV, ccIIV, or LAIV of any valency
- If using RIV4, administer in medical setting under supervision of health care provider who can recognize and manage severe allergic reactions
- May consult an allergist
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
- Influenza, live attenuated (LAIV4)
- Previously issued guidance regarding contraindications and precautions is provided below for informational purposes
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after previous dose of any influenza vaccine (i.e., any egg-based IIV, ccIIV, RIV, or LAIV of any valency)
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any vaccine component3 (excluding egg)
- Anatomic or functional asplenia
- Immunocompromised due to any cause including, but not limited to, medications and HIV infection
- Close contacts or caregivers of severely immunosuppressed persons who require a protected environment
- Pregnancy
- Cochlear implant
- Active communication between the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the oropharynx, nasopharynx, nose, ear, or any other cranial CSF leak
- Received influenza antiviral medications oseltamivir or zanamivir within the previous
48 hours, peramivir within the previous 5 days, or baloxavir within the previous 17 days
- Precautions
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks after a previous dose of any type of influenza vaccine
- Asthma in persons aged 5 years or older
- Persons with underlying medical conditions (other than those listed under contraindications) that might predispose to complications after wild-type influenza virus infection [e.g., chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular (except isolated hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)]
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
- Influenza, cell culture-based inactivated injectable
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any ccIIV of any valency, or to any component of ccIIV4
- Precautions
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks after a previous dose of any type of influenza vaccine
- Persons with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of any egg-based IIV, RIV, or LAIV of any valency
- If using ccIV4, administer in medical setting under supervision of health care provider who can recognize and manage severe allergic reactions
- May consult an allergist
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis Vaccine
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component3
- For Tdap only
- Encephalopathy (e.g., coma, decreased level of consciousness, prolonged seizures)
- Not attributable to another identifiable cause
- Within 7 days of administration of previous dose of DTP, DTaP, or Tdap
- Precautions
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
- Within 6 weeks after a previous dose of tetanus-toxoid–containing vaccine
- History of Arthus-type hypersensitivity reactions
- After a previous dose of diphtheria-toxoid– containing or tetanus-toxoid–containing vaccine
- Defer vaccination until at least 10 years have elapsed since the last tetanus-toxoid–containing vaccine
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
- For Tdap only
- Progressive or unstable neurological disorder, uncontrolled seizures, or progressive encephalopathy
- Until a treatment regimen has been established and the condition has stabilized
Varicella Vaccine
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component
- Severe immunodeficiency
- Hematologic and solid tumors
- Receipt of chemotherapy
- Congenital immunodeficiency
- Long-term immunosuppressive therapy
- Patients with HIV infection who are severely immunocompromised
- Pregnancy
- Family history of altered immunocompetence
- Unless verified clinically or by laboratory testing as immunocompetent
- Precautions
- Recent (≤ 11 months) receipt of antibody-containing blood product
- Specific interval depends on product
- Receipt of specific antiviral drugs (acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir) 24 hours before vaccination
- Avoid use of these antiviral drugs for 14 days after vaccination
- Use of aspirin or aspirin-containing products
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component
- Pregnancy
- HPV vaccination not recommended
- Precautions
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
Zoster Vaccine
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component
- Precautions
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
- Current herpes zoster infection
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
- Contraindicated
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component
- Severe immunodeficiency
- Hematologic and solid tumors
- Receipt of chemotherapy
- Congenital immunodeficiency
- Long-term immunosuppressive therapy
- Patients with HIV infection who are severely immunocompromised
- Pregnancy
- Family history of altered immunocompetence
- Unless verified clinically or by laboratory testing as immunocompetent
- Precautions
- Recent (< 11 months) receipt of antibody-containing blood product
- Specific interval depends on product
- History of thrombocytopenia or thrombocytopenia purpura
- Need for tuberculin skin testing or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) testing
- Moderate or severe acute illness w/ or w/o fever
Inactivated Polio Vaccine
- Contraindications
- A severe reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis, after a previous dose or to a vaccine component)
- Precautions
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
- Pregnancy
Rotavirus Vaccine
- Precaution
- Immunocompromised status (excluding HIV infection)
- Chronic GI disorder
- RV1 only: spina bifida or bladder exstrophy
- Moderate or severe acute illness w/ or w/o fever
- HIV infection: <15% or total CD4 cell count of <200/mm3
- HIV infection: ≥15% or total CD4 cell count of ≥200/mm3
- Contraindicated
- Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
- Severe allergic rxn (e.g., anaphylaxis) to previous dose or to a vaccine component
- History of intussusception
Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV15, PCV20) Vaccine
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis)
- After a previous dose or to a vaccine component
- To any diphtheria-toxoid–containing vaccine or to its vaccine component
Precautions
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (PPSV23) Vaccine
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component
- Precautions
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
Hepatitis A Vaccine
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component including neomycin and yeast
- Precautions
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
Hepatitis B Vaccine
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component including neomycin
- Pregnancy
- Heplisav-B and PreHevbrio are not recommended due to lack of safety data in pregnant persons
- Use other hepatitis B vaccines if HepB is indicated
- Precautions
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
Meningococcal, Conjugate (MenACWY)
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component
- For MenACWY-D and Men ACWY-CRM only: severe allergic reaction to any diphtheria toxoid– or CRM197– containing vaccine
- For MenACWY-TT only: severe allergic reaction to a tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine
- Precautions
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
Meningococcal Subgroup B (MenB) Vaccine
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component
- Precautions
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
- Pregnancy
- For Men2B-4C only: latex sensitivity
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Vaccine
- Contraindications
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a vaccine component
- For Hiberix, ActHiB and PedvaxHIB only
- Hx of severe allergic rxn to dry natural latex
- Precautions
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine Recommendations and Guidelines of the ACIP: Contraindications and Precautions. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/contraindications.html. [Accessed August 2023]
Contributor(s)
- Pacheco, Caleb S., MD
- Hernandez, James, DO
- Singh, Ajaydeep, MD
Updated/Reviewed: August 2023