Why do I need vaccinations?

Studies have shown that people with most rheumatic diseases are at a higher risk of infection. This can be due to the condition itself or its treatment, such as disease-modifying anti-inflammatory drugs (DMARDs) or corticosteroids (steroids).

Other non-disease factors may also increase the risk of infection further, such as:

• diabetes
• drinking too much alcohol
• old age.

Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and vasculitis are examples of an autoimmune disease, which means your immune system attacks your body’s own tissues rather than foreign bacteria or viruses. Because of their affect on the immune system, these conditions can make you more at risk of infection.

Immunosuppression

The medical term used to describe an increased risk of infection due to drugs or disease is immunosuppression. In other words, these factors have caused your body’s immune system (immuno-) to be subdued (suppression), so it’s less able to fight infections. People affected in this way are said to be immunosuppressed or immunocompromised and are classed as being in a high-risk group.