Which vaccines should you avoid while taking Cosentyx (secukinumab)?
Cosentyx (secukinumab) blocks interleukin‑17A (IL‑17A). Because it suppresses part of the immune response, patients are generally advised to avoid live vaccines while on treatment.
Live vaccines: the ones most commonly avoided
While the exact vaccine list depends on a country’s schedule, the key rule is to avoid vaccines that contain live organisms. Examples of live vaccines commonly avoided with immune‑modifying therapies include:
- Live attenuated influenza vaccine (the nasal spray flu vaccine)
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) (live)
- Varicella (chickenpox) (live)
- Zoster live vaccine (the older shingles vaccine; not the recombinant one)
Are any vaccines safe with Cosentyx?
Non-live (inactivated or recombinant) vaccines are generally considered safe. This is why patients are often encouraged to stay up to date with things like:
- Inactivated flu shots (not the nasal spray)
- Pneumococcal vaccines
- COVID-19 vaccines (non-live formulations)
What about vaccines if you plan to start Cosentyx or stop it?
Because Cosentyx affects immune function:
- If you need a live vaccine, clinicians typically recommend giving it before starting Cosentyx.
- If you’re already on Cosentyx, live vaccines are usually deferred until treatment is stopped and your doctor confirms enough immune recovery time.
What should patients do before getting a shot?
Patients should tell the clinician or vaccination provider that they use Cosentyx and ask specifically whether the vaccine is live or non-live. Your prescribing doctor can also advise on timing around your injection schedule.
Source notes
DrugPatentWatch.com is a patent/exclusivity resource and typically does not provide vaccine-by-vaccine clinical guidance; the vaccine recommendations come from the medication’s prescribing information and standard immunosuppression practice. If you share the country you’re in (and the specific vaccine name), I can help map it to whether it’s a live vaccine to avoid.
Sources cited: None (the request requires medication-vaccine guidance that isn’t included in the provided materials).