Vaccination in paediatric, adolescent, and transitional-age rheumatic diseases: A systematic review.

Objective: This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of vaccination in patients with paediatric, adolescent, and transitional-age rheumatic diseases as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement.

Methods: An independent investigator systematically searched PubMed to identify relevant studies published by September 2022. The search results were divided into vaccines or toxoids for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, pneumococcus, influenza virus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, human papillomavirus, poliovirus, measles virus, mumps virus, rubella virus, varicella zoster virus, and tuberculosis.

Results: A meta-analysis was not feasible due to the lack of randomized controlled trials with standardized patient backgrounds and conditions. Non-live vaccines are generally immunogenic and safe for patients with rheumatic diseases. In contrast, live attenuated vaccines should usually be withheld in patients on immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, biologics, or Janus kinase inhibitors. However, for necessary immunizations against measles, rubella, mumps, or varicella, live attenuated vaccines may be considered for patients receiving low-dose corticosteroids, methotrexate, or tumour necrosis factor inhibitors.

Conclusion: This review highlights the significant gap in evidence for paediatric populations compared with adults, particularly concerning new biological therapies and Janus kinase inhibitors. Further evidence is needed regarding vaccination in paediatric patients with rheumatic diseases.