Drug Interactions between alemtuzumab and cholera vaccine, live

CONTRAINDICATED: The administration of live, attenuated virus or bacterial vaccines during immunosuppressant or intense antineoplastic therapy may be associated with a risk of disseminated infection due to enhanced replication of vaccine virus or bacteria in the presence of diminished immune competence. Patients may be immunosuppressed if they have recently received or are receiving alkylating agents, antimetabolites, radiation, some antirheumatic agents, high dosages of corticosteroids or adrenocorticotropic agents, or long-term topical or inhaled corticosteroids. These patients may also have increased adverse reactions and decreased or suboptimal immunologic response to vaccines.

MANAGEMENT: In general, live virus or bacterial vaccines should not be used in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy or cancer chemotherapy. Vaccination should be deferred until after such therapy is discontinued for at least 3 months in most cases. In patients who have recently been vaccinated, such therapy should not be initiated for at least 2 weeks.