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Diabetes mellitus and immunization

Publication at Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové |
2006

Abstract

One of the most significant tools of infection prophylaxis is immunization. Vaccines containing thymus-dependent antigens produce massive and complex immune response and feature immunologic memory.

That is why they can successfully protect patients with diabetes. Lately, it has been thought by general public and even experts that application of vaccine within national immunization programmes is one of the etiopathogenetic factores in the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

However, analysis of extensive studies performed by the experts of the Institute for Vaccine safety proved that there is no positive or negative impact of immunization on the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The basic vaccination recommended for diabetics include immunizations against influenza, pneumococcal infection, tetanus, viral hepatitis B.

Other vaccines are administered only after individual assessment of benefits and risks for the diabetic patients. Most often, these are vaccinations against viral hepatitis A, tick-borne encephalitis, meningococcal infections and other infection that put in risk diabetic patients travelling abroad.