New Pneumonia, Shingles, RSV, and Hepatitis Vaccine Recommendations [2024]

posted in Infections And Lupus on March 4, 2022 by

Donald Thomas, MD

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Centers for Disease Control 2024 Vaccine Recommendations

In 2024 came out with its new vaccine recommendations. In this post, I will summarize the important changes for immunosuppressed people (such as people with systemic lupus erythematosus). I will make this short and to the point. I will only include those for adults aged 19 and older.

Briefly, one of the biggest changes is recommending the RSV vaccine for 60 year olds and older.

Pneumonia shots against Pneumococcal Pneumonia

• Everyone 65 years old and older, and immunosuppressed patients (this includes all systemic lupus patients, including those who only take hydroxychloroquine) 19 and older should get one of the following:
  • PCV20 (Prevnar 20) and no other pneumonia shots after that, or get a…
  • PCV15 (Vaxneuvance) followed at least a year later by a PCV23 (Pneumovax) vaccine and no more after that
• If someone accidentally gets Pneumovax initially, this should be followed by either a Prevnar 20 or a Vaxneuvance at least one year later

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Shingrix (Shingles) vaccine recommendations

The FDA had already approved the use of Shingrix for the prevention of shingles in people aged 19 and older who have compromised immune systems. However, insurance companies were rarely covering it yet for people aged 49 and younger. In February 2022, the CDC formally added this recommendation to the adult immunization schedule.

Systemic lupus patients are generally three times more likely to get shingles (due to the chickenpox or herpes zoster virus) than older healthy individuals. I, and many other rheumatologists who specialize in caring for lupus patients, recommend that all of our systemic lupus patients get the Shingrix vaccine followed by a further booster shot 2 to 6 months later.

Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendations

Previously, the CDC only recommended hepatitis B vaccines for high-risk individuals. Now, it is recommended for everyone who is 19 to 59 years old. People who are 60 and older should get it if they have risk factors for hepatitis. 

Other vaccine recommendations for systemic lupus patients

• Flu shot (influenza) yearly, particularly in early September to mid October is preferable in the Northern hemisphere
• Gardasil series against HPV virus associated cancers, before sexual activity is preferable.
• Everyone 60 and older should get a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can cause deadly pneumonia. Many rheumatologists think that younger immunosuppressed patients should also get it, but it is not usually covered by insurance (as of 2024).

Have you received your vaccines?
How did you do?
Did you have any reactions or did your lupus flare afterwards?

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For more in-depth information on New Pneumonia, Shingles, RSV, and Hepatitis Vaccine Recommendations [2024]:

Read more in The Lupus Encyclopedia, edition 2

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