Vaccines should be avoided or delayed for which of the following patients?

Vaccines should be avoided or delayed for patients who are ill enough to require referral to a physician or hospital because their compromised health status may increase the risk of adverse reactions to the vaccine or may indicate that the patient needs treatment for a more serious underlying condition. In such cases, the benefit of vaccination may be outweighed by the potential for complications related to the patient's current illness.

For other patient situations presented, the guidelines are different. For instance, breastfeeding is generally not a contraindication for live vaccines; thus, a breastfeeding patient may safely receive them. Similarly, while precaution is often taken with newborns whose mothers have HIV, the decision to vaccinate should be made based on the overall health and the specific situation of both the mother and the child. Lastly, premature infants can receive vaccinations, particularly if they are age-appropriate despite their birth weight or gestational age, as long as their clinical status allows it. Therefore, the consideration of a patient's general condition is crucial when determining vaccine administration.