Patients with anatomical or functional asplenia have an increased risk of severe disease progression in infections with encapsulated bacteria. They should therefore be vaccinated against pneumococci, Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococci. In addition, the annual flu vaccination is recommended, as influenza infection increases the risk of secondary bacterial infections, especially with pneumococci.
In principle, all vaccinations mentioned here can be given on the same day, but this has only been studied for the use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in children < 6 years of age.
In the case of a planned splenectomy, vaccinations should preferably be given no later than 2 weeks before the procedure. If this is not possible, vaccination can be given up to 3 days before the surgery date. If vaccination can only be given after splenectomy, vaccinations can be given as soon as the patient is in a stable general condition. If immunosuppressive therapy is planned, e.g. because of an underlying malignant disease, vaccination should be given beforehand if possible, provided that postponement of the immunosuppressive treatment seems justifiable.