Receiving a Vaccine While Sick

Receiving a Vaccine While Sick

• If you or your child has a mild illness, it is not a reason to reschedule your vaccination
• Symptoms of a mild illness include:
• A low grade fever (lower than 101°F)
• Mild indigestion or diarrhea
• Runny nose
• Coughing or sneezing
• Headache
• A common misconception is that sick patients will not have an effective immune system to build immunity for the vaccine if their immune system is overworked
• With the specificity of the immune system, different cells respond to different infections and immunity will be conferred in the individual 
• Those with a serious illness may not be able to receive certain vaccinations
• Chronic health conditions (Cancer, PIDD)
• Immunocompromised (Chemotherapy, immunosuppressants from surgery or transplantation, HIV)
• Allergic reactions to known ingredients in the vaccine (rare)