A parent requests that her 6mo old child receive immunoglobulin as protection against hepatitis A prior to international travel. Which of the following does this parent need to know?

A parent requests that her 6mo old child receive immunoglobulin as protection against hepatitis A prior to international travel. Which of the following does this parent need to know?

• A. After IG administration, a 3mo interval is needed prior to the next measles vaccination
• B. There is no impact on future immunizations
• C. No immunizations can be given for 1year
• D. Since children do not have symptoms with hepatitis A, IG is not necessary

Answer: (A)

When immune globulin is given for protection against hepatitis A, the child gains immediate passive antibodies that shield them for a short time. Those passively acquired antibodies can interfere with the child’s own immune response to live vaccines, especially measles-containing vaccines. Because of this potential interference, a waiting period is recommended between immune globulin administration and giving a live vaccine. Thus, after receiving immune globulin, the measles-containing vaccine should be delayed for about three months to ensure the child will mount an adequate immune response. This is the main point to convey to the parent: while IG provides temporary protection, it can temporarily blunt the response to the measles vaccine, so schedule the measles vaccine after the three‑month interval. The other statements aren’t correct: immune globulin does impact timing of future vaccines, it doesn’t require a full year-long delay for all vaccines, and recognizing that IG is used for travel protection does not mean vaccines should be skipped or omitted.

When immune globulin is given for protection against hepatitis A, the child gains immediate passive antibodies that shield them for a short time. Those passively acquired antibodies can interfere with the child’s own immune response to live vaccines, especially measles-containing vaccines. Because of this potential interference, a waiting period is recommended between immune globulin administration and giving a live vaccine.

Thus, after receiving immune globulin, the measles-containing vaccine should be delayed for about three months to ensure the child will mount an adequate immune response. This is the main point to convey to the parent: while IG provides temporary protection, it can temporarily blunt the response to the measles vaccine, so schedule the measles vaccine after the three‑month interval.

The other statements aren’t correct: immune globulin does impact timing of future vaccines, it doesn’t require a full year-long delay for all vaccines, and recognizing that IG is used for travel protection does not mean vaccines should be skipped or omitted.