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Table. Recommended timing of live vaccine doses in adults and children taking corticosteroids

This table assumes that the person has no other factors that contribute to their being immunocompromised (such as an underlying medical condition or use of other immunosuppressive medicines).

Vaccine recipient	Prednisone-equivalent dose	Duration of therapy	Potential timing of vaccination
Adolescents aged ≥16 years and adults	<20 mg per day	Any duration	Any time during therapy
	≥20 mg per day	<14 days	Immunise 1 month before starting corticosteroids or any time after stopping corticosteroids.
	≥20 mg per day	≥14 days	Immunise 1 month before starting corticosteroid or at least 1 month after stopping corticosteroids.
Children and adolescents aged <16 years, weight ≤10 kg	<1 mg/kg per day	<30 days	Any time during therapy
	<2 mg/per day	<14 days	Any time during therapy
	<2 mg/per day	14–28 days	Immunise 1 month before starting corticosteroids or at least 1 month after stopping corticosteroids. Alternatively, person may be able to receive live vaccines at any time during therapy, but only after seeking expert advice.
	≥2 mg/kg per day	<14 days	Immunise 1 month before starting corticosteroids or any time after stopping corticosteroids.
	≥2 mg/kg per day	Between 14 days and 28 days	Immunise 1 month before starting corticosteroids or at least 1 month after stopping corticosteroids.
Children and adolescents aged <16 years, weight >10 kg	<10 mg per day	<28 days	Any time during therapy
	<20 mg per day	<14 days	Any time during therapy
	<20 mg per day	14–28 days	Immunise 1 month before starting corticosteroids or at least 1 month after stopping corticosteroids. Alternatively, the person may be able to receive live vaccines at any time during therapy, but only after seeking expert advice.
	≥20 mg per day	<14 days	Immunise 1 month before starting corticosteroids or any time after stopping corticosteroids.
	≥20 mg per day	14–28 days	Immunise 1 month before starting corticosteroids or at least 1 month after stopping corticosteroids.
Children and adolescents aged <16 years, any weight	Any dose	>28 days	Immunise 1 month before starting corticosteroids or at least 1 month after stopping corticosteroids.

Page history

Last updated

5 June 2018

Last reviewed

5 June 2018

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https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/resources/tables/table-recommended-timing-of-live-vaccine-doses-in-adults-and-children-taking-corticosteroids

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