Vaccines for persons at high risk, 2007.

Morbidity and mortality due to vaccine-preventable diseases are high among persons with underlying medical conditions. Thus, inactivated influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines are recommended for individuals with cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunosuppression, and other chronic illnesses. Inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended for pregnant women and for persons with asthma and neuromuscular disease. Palivizumab, a respiratory syncytial virus immunoglobulin preparation, is recommended for certain infants with prematurity and chronic lung disease. Health care workers are at high risk for acquiring and transmitting hepatitis B, pertussis, measles, varicella, and influenza; hence, vaccination against these diseases is recommended. A signed declination is recommended for health care workers who refuse influenza vaccination.