Vaccination of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus - a Retrospective Study

Abstract

SUMMARY402 subjects with diabetes mellitus have been vaccinated of the total of 34,000 vaccinees immunized during the study period of 9 and half months. Altogether 229 diabetic patients (56.97%) have been vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and 74 (18.4%) against viral hepatitis (41 types A+B, 30 type A, 3 type B). The average age in four most commonly administered vaccines (FSME IMMUN 0.5 ML, Twinrix Adult, Typhim Vi, and Havrix 1440) was 65, 52, 56, and 54 years, respectively. Live attenuated vaccines have been given to 6 patients with diabetes (1.49%) -5 travellers to endemic countries received the yellow fever vaccine Stamaril (1 female, 4 male) and one male patient varicella vaccine Varilrix. Among the least common vaccines in diabetic patients were those against invasive pneumococcal and meningococcal infections. Not a single unexpected side effect has been observed following the vaccination procedure in any diabetic patient.Based on the results of this retrospective study we can conclude that vaccination in diabetic patients is free of any risk -provided that there are no other contraindications, e.g. allergy to vaccine components or severe acute febrile illness. In the case of unstable glycaemia and significantly impaired immune system due to diabetes mellitus, vaccination with live attenuated vaccines should be carefully considered and measured against the risks of exposure to each and every specific infectious agent.There is no reason to be afraid of vaccination in diabetic patients provided that general contraindications are respected. On the contrary, this risk group can benefit from vaccination more remarkably since it may have some life-saving potential.

An overview of the meningococcal disease and impact of the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine

“…Undoubtedly, several evidences showed that vaccines' effectiveness outweighed their risks; including preventing the morbidity and mortality caused by the infectious diseases (Andre et al, 2008). Another study of Mad'ar et al, (2011) that was conducted within a period of 9.5 months; revealed that 402 patients with DM were vaccinated without any increased risks of side effects.…”

Pneumococcal vaccination and incident hospitalisation for pneumonia in type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II

“…There is no evidence to suggest that the antibody response or protection against clinical disease is inadequate in patients with diabetes . In addition, although local and systemic adverse effects are relatively common, especially after repeat doses, limited data suggest that these are not increased in diabetes …”

Summary and future perspectives for oral insulin delivery

“…Other delivery systems under development focus on the intranasal [9], transdermal [10], ocular [11] and rectal routes [12], while innovative treatment options such as islet cell transplantation [13], gene therapy [14] and an antidiabetic vaccine [15] are also being actively explored. Some of them have reached the clinical stage too, but none of them have reached routine human use.…”