Question

An immigrant child is in the clinic for MMR vaccination. The nurse learns that the child has recently received an immune globulin injection for a viral infection, currently has an upper respiratory infection with a temperature of 100°F, and has a recent history of thrombocytopenia, which has resolved. What does the nurse tell the child's parents?

1) The vaccine is contraindicated in this child because of the history of thrombocytopenia.
2) The child should be brought back for the vaccine when the temperature is back to normal.
3) The child is at increased risk of developing autism from this vaccine.
4) The vaccine must be postponed for 3 months after administration of the immune globulin.

Answer 1

The MMR vaccine must be postponed due to the recent immune globulin injection, not the past thrombocytopenia or mild fever. The claim linking the vaccine to autism is false, and delaying vaccination poses risks of disease outbreak.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should tell the child's parents that the MMR vaccine must be postponed for a period after receiving an immune globulin injection. While a previous history of thrombocytopenia that has resolved does not contraindicate vaccination, the main concern is the administration of the vaccine so soon after the immune globulin. Immune globulin can interfere with the vaccine's efficacy.

Regarding the child's current mild upper respiratory infection and low-grade fever (100°F), these are not contraindications to vaccination. A mild illness is generally not a reason to delay vaccination. Although parents may come across information suggesting that the MMR vaccine is linked to autism, this claim has been thoroughly discredited in scientific studies. It's also important to remember that diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella have not been eradicated and can still pose a risk to unvaccinated individuals, potentially leading to outbreaks.