Effect of immunosuppressive agents on vaccine immunogenicity

For most patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease using conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, most biologics, or glucocorticoids, vaccinations are expected to confer adequate protection, although the immune response to some vaccines may be blunted. The degree to which the immune response may be altered by these medications varies based on the specific immunosuppressive drug regimen, vaccines used, and other patient-specific factors. The effect of immunosuppressive agents on the immune responses to vaccines other than those listed above has not been well studied. Refer to the UpToDate text for additional detail.