Having vaccines before you start immunosuppressive drugs

Might you have to take drugs to modify your immune system?

Might you like to go travelling to Africa later in your life?

You might need to have vaccines NOW before you start – those vaccines will last for life

There are some drugs that may change the way the immune system works. Sometimes the immune system is triggered to be too active, and starts attacking itself instead of outside invaders.  Suppressing the immune system in this case may be helpful to treat certain diseases, e.g.  Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease or after an organ transplant. Once you start these immunosuppressive drugs it will be too late to have Yellow fever vaccine for example. If you have the vaccine BEFORE you start the medication you will get the protection you need for later travels SO it just makes sense to think about where you might go so you can plan in advance and get the vaccines now for your future travels. Your future self will thank you.