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Aspirin and Other NSAIDs May Hinder Vaccines

(HealthCentersOnline) - Taking aspirin or certain other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) around the time of a vaccination for flu, human papillomavirus or other conditions might reduce the vaccine's effectiveness, researchers report.

Vaccinations and immunizations include the flu shot and the new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Annual flu shots are recommended for at-risk people, including children ages 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, people age 50 and older and people with impaired immunity due to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. The HPV vaccine helps girls and women prevent HPV infections, which are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.

Researchers at the University of Rochester in New York recently discovered that some NSAIDs, including aspirin, ibuprofen and COX-2 inhibitors, could interfere with vaccines. These drugs, known as cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, block an inflammatory enzyme but also impede production of infection-fighting antibodies. The findings include data from human trials of the HPV vaccine and studies on mice.

The researchers emphasized that they did not find any problems with the HPV vaccine. "There's no doubt the HPV vaccine showed 100 percent efficacy. Still, our data does suggest that it might be wise to limit the use of NSAIDs when you receive any vaccine," co-author Dr. Robert Rose stated in a news release.

The study was published this month in the Journal of Immunology.

Candidates for vaccines who are prescribed NSAIDs, such as heart patients on daily aspirin therapy, may wish to consult their physician.

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