NHF Administration of Vaccines to Individuals with Bleeding Disorders Guideline Summary

Protocol for Administration of Vaccines

MASAC recommends that when giving immunizations, the following procedures may be considered

A fine-gauge needle (23 gauge or smaller caliber) be used.
Firm pressure should be applied to the site for at least 2 minutes without rubbing.
The patient and/or caregiver should be informed that there is risk of hematoma development at the injection site. Patients with hemophilia depending on their factor level, may consider use of therapy to prevent hematoma formation, in consultation with their hemophilia treatment center.
Anticipatory guidance should be given regarding when to call the physician or HTC regarding any adverse reactions such as hematoma, fever, warmth, redness.
For pain/fever relief, avoid aspirin and NSAIDS (such as ibuprofen, naproxen sodium) because of the potential risk of bleeding. Acetaminophen is a safe alternative, but should be used with caution, especially in individuals at risk for liver disease.
If the patient is receiving prophylaxis treatment for hemophilia, vaccination may be administered within 24 hours of Standard or Extended half-life FVIII or Standard half-life FIX concentrate and within 48 hours of administration of Extended half-life FIX concentrate, to decrease the risk of developing a hematoma.For patients with a basal FVIII or FIX level above 10%, no hemostatic precautions may be required.
Patients on Emicizumab prophylaxis may not require additional treatment prior to vaccinations.
Patients with Type 1 or 2 Willebrand disease (VWD), depending on their baseline von Willebrand factor (VWF) activity levels, may consider use of therapy to prevent hematoma formation, in consultation with their hemophilia treatment center. Patients with Type 3 VWD should consider a VWF-containing infusion prior to vaccination.
All rare bleeding disorder patients (including those with thrombocytopenia and/or platelet function disorders) should be vaccinated with the above general precautions.
Patients on Vitamin K antagonists should have prothrombin time testing performed within 72 hours prior to injection to determine international normalized ratio (INR); if results are stable and within the therapeutic range, they can be vaccinated intramuscularly. No data are available in patients on DOACs/NOACs.

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Vaccines that can be given subcutaneously

There is considerable variation regarding vaccine route of administration (IM vs SQ) among HTC providers (reference CDC data). Many vaccines have not undergone rigorous investigation to demonstrate that SQ administration is as effective as IM administration. Whether or not the potential reduction in intramuscular hematomas from SQ administration outweighs any potential reduction in vaccine efficacy is not known. The vaccines (single vaccines, not in combination with other vaccines) that have been tested and demonstrated to be effective when administered either IM or SQ include:

Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV)
Polio, inactivated (IPV)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B

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Overview

Title

Administration of Vaccines to Individuals with Bleeding Disorders