Which is a common contraindication to certain live vaccines in adults?

• A. Seasonal allergies
• B. Diabetes
• C. Pregnancy
• D. Cancer remission

Answer: (C)

Live vaccines use a weakened form of a pathogen that can replicate in the body. In pregnancy, this replication raises theoretical risk to the developing fetus, so these vaccines are avoided to protect fetal health. That’s why pregnancy is the common contraindication for certain live vaccines in adults, such as those for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.

Seasonal allergies and diabetes, by themselves, do not prevent vaccination. They don’t indicate a safety risk from receiving vaccines, though providers may consider timing or vaccine type for other health reasons. Cancer remission is not an automatic barrier either; the main concern is active immunosuppression. If someone is immunocompromised, a live vaccine might be avoided, but remission itself doesn’t automatically preclude vaccination.

When pregnancy is present, the approach is to use inactivated vaccines if protection is needed during pregnancy, and to postpone live vaccines until after delivery, at which point vaccination for conditions like measles, mumps, rubella, and varella can be considered.