Influenza Immunization in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Safe

Influenza vaccine is recommended for all children aged 6 months and older. Immunocompromised patients, such as those treated for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are at increased risk for complications from influenza and are encouraged to receive annual vaccination. Previous case reports of complications from influenza vaccination, including immune activation and disease flare, have deterred some patients and physicians from receiving and administering the annual vaccine.

In this large case-control study, investigators in Ontario, Canada, reviewed healthcare utilization before and after immunization for nearly 5000 children (age range, 2–18 years) with IBD and 22,000 matched controls. Immunization rates were higher in the IBD group but low …