Which group is generally advised to avoid live attenuated vaccines?

Which group is generally advised to avoid live attenuated vaccines?

• A. Healthy adults
• B. Individuals with compromised immune systems
• C. Children over the age of 12
• D. Pregnant women during any trimester

Answer: (B)

Individuals with compromised immune systems are generally advised to avoid live attenuated vaccines due to the potential risk of serious infections. Live attenuated vaccines contain weakened forms of the pathogen that can cause disease in healthy individuals. However, for those who have weakened or compromised immune systems—such as patients undergoing chemotherapy, individuals with HIV/AIDS, or those on immunosuppressive therapy—the immune response may not be robust enough to handle even the weakened pathogens. This could lead to illness, making it crucial for this group to avoid such vaccines to ensure their health and safety. Healthy adults typically can receive live attenuated vaccines, and children over the age of 12 are often vaccinated with these types of vaccines as part of routine immunization schedules. Pregnant women are usually advised to avoid live attenuated vaccines as a precaution, particularly during certain trimesters, but this advice is more about the risk to the fetus rather than the woman's immune status. Therefore, the focus on the immune compromise specifically highlights why this group should avoid live attenuated vaccines.

Individuals with compromised immune systems are generally advised to avoid live attenuated vaccines due to the potential risk of serious infections. Live attenuated vaccines contain weakened forms of the pathogen that can cause disease in healthy individuals. However, for those who have weakened or compromised immune systems—such as patients undergoing chemotherapy, individuals with HIV/AIDS, or those on immunosuppressive therapy—the immune response may not be robust enough to handle even the weakened pathogens. This could lead to illness, making it crucial for this group to avoid such vaccines to ensure their health and safety.

Healthy adults typically can receive live attenuated vaccines, and children over the age of 12 are often vaccinated with these types of vaccines as part of routine immunization schedules. Pregnant women are usually advised to avoid live attenuated vaccines as a precaution, particularly during certain trimesters, but this advice is more about the risk to the fetus rather than the woman's immune status. Therefore, the focus on the immune compromise specifically highlights why this group should avoid live attenuated vaccines.