Drug Interaction Report

GENERALLY AVOID: The administration of live, attenuated viral or bacterial vaccines during immunosuppressant 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. There are currently no data on the secondary transmission of infection by live vaccines in patients receiving vedolizumab specifically. Immunosuppressed patients may also have increased adverse reactions and decreased or suboptimal immunologic response to vaccines.

MANAGEMENT: Administration of live, attenuated vaccines should be avoided in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Their use in patients who are severely immunocompromised is generally considered a contraindication. Vaccination should be deferred until after such therapy is discontinued for at least 3 months in most cases, and longer following treatment with agents that have a prolonged elimination half-life. In patients who have recently been vaccinated, such therapy should not be initiated for at least 2 weeks (may be longer in some cases). Vedolizumab labeling recommends that patients be brought up-to-date with all immunizations according to current immunization guidelines prior to initiating treatment. Live vaccines may be administered concurrently with vedolizumab only if the benefits outweigh the risks. Current local immunization guidelines and prescribing information for individual vaccines should be consulted for further information.