Vaccinations recommended for people without a spleen

The spleen is a small organ located in the upper left side of your abdomen, just under your rib cage. The spleen contains white blood cells that destroy bacteria and help your body fight infections when you are sick. It also helps remove, or filter, old red blood cells from circulation.

Some people are born without a spleen (this is called asplenia) or their spleen does not work properly (this is called splenic dysfunction).

Some people have their spleen surgically removed. This operation is called a splenectomy. The most common reason for splenectomy is to treat a ruptured spleen, which is often caused by an injury to your abdomen (tummy area).

A splenectomy may also be used to treat other conditions, including removing an enlarged spleen that is causing discomfort (splenomegaly), some blood disorders, certain cancers, infection and noncancerous cysts or tumours.

Vaccinations help reduce your risk of getting a life-threatening infection after splenectomy. Immunisation is also known as vaccination. Immunisation involves receiving a vaccine to help your body's immune system protect you against a disease. Read more about how your immune system works.

After spleen removal, you are more vulnerable to serious or life-threatening infections, including pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and meningitis. Infections usually develop quickly and make you severely ill. The risk of a life-threatening infection after splenectomy is more than 50 times higher than the risk in the general population. 

To reduce your risk of getting life-threatening infections, it is recommended that you complete your vaccinations 2–4 weeks before a planned splenectomy. If you have an unplanned splenectomy, you should get them after you've recovered from the operation. You should also get them if you've been diagnosed with hyposplenism (when your spleen doesn't function as it should).  

Which vaccinations you need depends on what vaccinations you've had before and what your healthcare provider currently recommends. The vaccines are free, and you'll usually get them at your GP surgery. You may need to pay a consultation fee. 

You'll need boosters of some vaccinations to keep up your immunity (a booster is a repeat of a vaccination that you've had before). You should have a flu vaccination every year.

Recommended vaccines include:

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine
• Flu vaccine (every year)
• Pneumococcal vaccine
• Meningococcal vaccine
• Tetanus vaccine
• Diphtheria vaccine
• Pertussis vaccine