Can you safely get vaccines while on Cosentyx (secukinumab)?
Cosentyx (secukinumab) is an immunosuppressive biologic that targets IL-17A. Vaccine recommendations depend on whether the vaccine is live or non-live.
In general, people on immunosuppressive therapies are advised to avoid live vaccines, while non-live (inactivated, recombinant, or subunit) vaccines are usually allowed. Your clinician should confirm which specific vaccines apply to you and your schedule.
Should you delay any vaccines specifically?
Delay is mainly a concern for live vaccines. If a live vaccine is needed, clinicians typically time it so it’s given either before starting Cosentyx or when it’s considered safe to do so based on your treatment plan and disease control. If you already started Cosentyx, the safer route is usually to switch to non-live alternatives when available and medically appropriate.
For routine non-live vaccines (such as flu shots given as an inactivated vaccine), the usual approach is not to delay, but to keep up with the recommended schedule as advised by your doctor.
What about “live” vaccines vs “non-live” vaccines?
The key decision point is vaccine type:
Live vaccines: typically avoided during treatment with immunosuppressive biologics like Cosentyx unless an infectious-disease or immunology specialist provides specific guidance. Examples of live vaccines (names vary by country) often include certain formulations of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), live attenuated influenza nasal spray, yellow fever, and others.
Non-live vaccines: generally considered safe to give during treatment with biologics, but responses can be lower than in people not on immunosuppression, so timing and health status still matter.
If you need a vaccine urgently, what should you ask your doctor?
Ask your prescriber (or primary care clinician) these questions:
- Is the vaccine live or non-live?
- Should I receive it now while on Cosentyx, or schedule it at a different time?
- Do I need to update any other vaccines before the next Cosentyx dose?
- Are there special considerations because of your condition (for example, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis severity, history of infections, or other immune medicines)?
What if you’re planning to start Cosentyx or you just started it?
If you haven’t started Cosentyx yet, clinicians often review your vaccine status and give needed vaccines ahead of time, especially for live vaccines, when feasible. If you already started Cosentyx, the plan usually becomes: avoid live vaccines during therapy and use non-live vaccines on schedule when possible.
Should household members delay vaccines because you’re on Cosentyx?
This can matter because some household members’ vaccines can involve live components depending on the vaccine type. In many cases, household members can still receive appropriate vaccines, but you should ask your doctor or pharmacist what applies to your specific situation and what vaccines your close contacts are planning.
How do side effects and infection risk factor in?
Getting vaccines generally helps reduce infection risk. The main practical concern on Cosentyx is not whether vaccines should happen, but whether a live vaccine could be unsafe during immunosuppression, and whether you may need timing adjustments or alternatives.
If you tell me which country you’re in and which vaccines you’re considering (or the date of your next Cosentyx dose), I can help you map the usual “live vs non-live” guidance to your situation.