From the Guidelines
Patients with hepatitis C should receive all standard adult vaccinations plus specific vaccines to prevent additional liver damage, including hepatitis A and B vaccines if not already immune, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1. These vaccines are crucial in preventing coinfections that can cause more severe liver disease.
- The annual influenza vaccine is recommended, as is pneumococcal vaccination (both PCV13 and PPSV23 vaccines) 1.
- COVID-19 vaccination is also important for patients with hepatitis C.
- For patients with advanced liver disease or cirrhosis, additional vaccines may be recommended, including Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) every 10 years and herpes zoster vaccine for those over 50 1. These vaccinations are particularly important because hepatitis C patients have compromised liver function, making them more vulnerable to complications from vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Additionally, some hepatitis C treatments may further suppress the immune system, making vaccination timing critical, ideally before starting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C, as immune responses to vaccines may be better before treatment begins 1. Patients should discuss their specific vaccination needs with their healthcare provider, as recommendations may vary based on age, liver disease severity, and other medical conditions.
From the Research
Vaccinations Needed in Hepatitis C Patients
- Hepatitis B vaccination is safe and immunogenic in patients with chronic hepatitis C, as shown in a study published in 1999 2.
- The study found that patients with chronic hepatitis C had similar antibody response rates to healthy subjects after receiving hepatitis B vaccine.
- Another study published in 2015 discussed the need for a hepatitis C vaccine to prevent transmission, as current antiviral therapy can cure the infection but may not diminish the global burden of liver disease 3.
- There is no direct evidence on the specific vaccinations needed for hepatitis C patients, but it is recommended to follow standard vaccination protocols, such as hepatitis A and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.
- However, a study published in 2023 found that coadministration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and hepatitis A vaccine may decrease the immune response to hepatitis A vaccine 4.
- Other studies have shown that concomitant administration of vaccines, such as pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and meningococcal C-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine, does not interfere with immune responses to other vaccines 5, 6.