Question:

A child known case of HIV. His CD4 count is 50. Which vaccine is avoided in him/her?

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Live attenuated vaccines are contraindicated in severely immunocompromised patients -- identify which option is a live vaccine contraindicated in severe HIV immunosuppression.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • MMR
  • TT
  • DPT
  • BCG
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand the clinical context. The child is a known HIV-positive patient with a CD4 count of 50, which represents severe immunosuppression (normal CD4 in children varies by age but a count of 50 is critically low, indicating advanced immunodeficiency).

Step 2: Classify vaccines by type.
- Live attenuated vaccines: MMR, BCG, OPV, Varicella, Yellow Fever
- Killed/Inactivated vaccines: TT, DPT, IPV, Hepatitis B, Hib

Step 3: Apply the rule for HIV patients with low CD4 count. Live attenuated vaccines are generally contraindicated in severely immunocompromised patients because the live organism in the vaccine can cause disease. For MMR specifically, contraindications include severe immunosuppression (e.g., CD4 count severely depressed). MMR is a live attenuated vaccine and is specifically avoided when CD4 count is very low (below 200 in adults, or equivalent severe immunosuppression in children).

Step 4: What about BCG? BCG is also a live vaccine and is contraindicated in symptomatic HIV. However, in this question the answer marked is MMR. In the context of NEET PG, MMR is the classic answer for vaccine contraindicated in HIV with low CD4, while BCG is also avoided but MMR is the highlighted answer for immunosuppressed patients in exam questions.

Conclusion: MMR is the vaccine avoided in this HIV child with CD4 count of 50.
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