There are four main contraindications of vaccines that must be considered during administration. These four main contraindications are: pregnancy, moderate or severe illness, immunosuppression, and antibody containing products. The presence one or multiple contraindications are usually temporary and administration of the vaccine should be given at a later time.

An individual with immunosuppression should not be given any live attenuated vaccines until the immune system is no longer in a suppressed state. Delaying administration of a live vaccine in an immunosuppressed patient decreases the possibility of adverse side effects. If a live vaccine were to be given to an immunosuppressed patient, the immune system will most likely not be able to properly respond leading to a severe reaction or fatal consequences. In this instance you are giving an immunosuppressed person a live bacteria or virus that they have no ability to contain or fight off. This is of great consideration when vaccinating patients with cancer (being treated by chemotherapy), HIV, congenital immunodeficiency, or a patient recently treated with corticosteroids. All of the aforementioned conditions greatly weaken the immune system. In the instances of cancer or HIV, it is best to weight the patient’s risk of being immunized against the possibility of corrupting their immune system with a live vaccine.

Another contraindication to consider is if the patient has recently received antibody containing products. Antibodies that are present circulating in the blood can inhibit the immune system’s ability to sufficiently react to live attenuated vaccines. In this situation, it is best to wait an extended period of time to ensure that the antibody containing products have been fully processed by the body before vaccination.

Source: CDC – You Call the Shots, http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/isd/ycts/mod1/courses/genrec/11110.asp?seg=D