As you know, PPMD works very hard to keep you as up to date as possible. Sometimes those updates come very quickly, as has recently happened with recommendations for vaccinations. While we just recently published a new “altered vaccination schedule,” discussions with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have again updated the recommendations for vaccinations for people living with Duchenne. The new recommendations are listed on our website, and will be uploaded onto our mobile app. 

The bottom line from the CDC is: 

• People receiving more than 2mg/kg/day of daily corticosteroids are considered to be immunosuppressed and should NOT receive live virus vaccines.
• People receiving more than 20mg/day of daily corticosteroids are considered to be immunosuppressed. If these patients require administration of a live vaccine, it is recommended that the dose of corticosteroids be reduced to <20 mg/day of daily corticosteroids for a period of 1 month before and 1 month after receiving the live vaccine.
• People receiving less than 2mg/kg/day of daily corticosteroids are not considered to be immunosuppressed and may receive live virus vaccines if necessary.
• People receiving intermittent corticosteroid dosing (alternate day, weekend dosing, 10 days on/10 days off, etc.) are not considered to be immunosuppressed (regardless of dose) and may receive live virus vaccines if necessary.

We realize that this is a change and contradicts what we have reported in the past. We do continue to recommend that live virus vaccines be given before daily corticosteroids are started, when possible, and that live virus vaccines be avoided when possible (i.e., you/your child with Duchenne should receive the “flu shot” [not a live virus vaccine] rather than the “nasal spray” [live virus] annually).

We hope the Vaccination Recommendations for people living with Duchenne are clear. I am always available to answer any questions (my email address is Kathi@ParentProjectMD.org).