Vaccination in patients with disorders of the muscle and neuromuscular junction

Neuromuscular diseases cover a broad spectrum of conditions that have important differences. Infections are frequently associated with severe complications, mainly because the neurological involvement can cause the aspiration of respiratory secretions and be significantly worsened by progressive respiratory and/or cardiovascular disease and immunosuppressive therapy. Preventing infectious diseases in patients with disorders of the muscle and neuromuscular junction is clinically important and vaccines play an important role in this regard. The majority of experts recommend that patients with these disorders should receive the same vaccinations as those recommended for healthy subjects, with special attention being given to the fact that two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and varicella vaccines should be administered before beginning immunosuppressive therapy. In addition, annual influenza vaccination and pneumococcal vaccination are recommended for almost all patients with disorders of the muscle and neuromuscular junction.