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Immunotherapy and the Side Effects
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Vaccines and immunotherapy

Vaccines and immunotherapy It is important to talk to your healthcare team if you are thinking about getting any vaccines for health or travel. Some vaccines may make you sick when you are on immunotherapy or once finished your treatment.

Talk to your doctor about getting any vaccines including the flu shot.

Important:

Do not have live vaccines 42 days or less before your treatment. You will not be able to have live vaccines at any point after your immunotherapy treatment has ended.

Examples of live vaccines include: measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, shingles, yellow fever, rabies, BCG (vaccine for Tuberculosis), and typhoid (oral) vaccine. Nasal spray flu vaccines (e.g. Flu-Mist) are not allowed.

If you think you have had a live vaccine less than 42 days before your immunotherapy treatment please tell your doctor and nurse.