Infectious Diseases

Answer 2 When amantadine or rimantadine is administered as chemoprophylaxis, vaccination is unnecessary. This statement is incorrect. Although the antiviral drugs reduce the possibility of clinical disease, they do not provide any lasting protection. As soon as the prophylaxis is discontinued, the patient is vulnerable to infection. Assuming that immediate protection is needed (ie, the patient was not vaccinated or is traveling to the Pacific area or the Southern Hemisphere), antivirals can be used to provide protection during the “window phase” of vaccination when antibodies are developing. The antivirals do not interfere with the immune response to the vaccine. Click here to return to the questions

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