A 2009 article in The Lancet reported that infants who received 3 doses of paracetamol following immunization had reduced immune responses to certain vaccines. Based on these findings, should we stop recommending acetaminophen for fever or discomfort after infant immunizations?

Findings of this study discourages the prophylactic use of paracetamol (similar to acetaminophen) prior to or immediately following vaccination. Acetaminophen can be used to treat pain or fever if it should occur following vaccination. ACIP’s “General Best Practices Guidelines for Immunization” state: “Evidence does not support use of antipyretics before or at the time of vaccination; however, they can be used for the treatment of fever and local discomfort that might occur following vaccination. Studies of children with previous febrile seizures have not demonstrated antipyretics to be effective in the prevention of febrile seizures.” For more information on this issue, see Methods for Alleviating Discomfort and Pain Associated with Vaccination at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/administration.html.