What kind of patients should avoid live attenuated vaccines?

Live attenuated vaccines are designed to elicit a strong immune response by using a weakened form of the pathogen. However, these vaccines can pose a risk to certain patient populations, particularly those who are immunocompromised.

Immunocompromised patients include individuals with weakened immune systems due to conditions such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, primary immunodeficiency disorders, or those receiving immunosuppressive therapies (like corticosteroids, chemotherapy, or certain biologic agents). In these patients, the live vaccine may not only be ineffective but could also cause disease, as their bodies may not be able to control the attenuated strains effectively.

On the other hand, patients with minor illnesses, chronic conditions, and healthy adults typically can receive live attenuated vaccines, provided their immune system is functioning normally. Therefore, the recommendation to avoid live attenuated vaccines is specifically directed toward those with compromised immunity, making this option the correct response.