Questions: The parent of a 5-year-old child who is receiving chemotherapy tells the nurse that the child is not up to date on the required immunizations for school. Which response would the nurse give?

The answer is the third one: "This isn't the best time to finish the immunizations because your child's immune system is suppressed."

Explanation for each option:

• "By this time, your child has developed sufficient antibodies to provide immunity."

  • This statement is incorrect because a 5-year-old child may not have developed sufficient antibodies to provide immunity, especially if they are not up to date on immunizations. Additionally, chemotherapy can further compromise the immune system.

• "Maintaining current immunizations is critical. Make sure the series is completed."

  • While maintaining immunizations is generally important, this statement does not take into account the child's current medical condition. Chemotherapy suppresses the immune system, making it potentially unsafe to administer live vaccines during treatment.

• "This isn't the best time to finish the immunizations because your child's immune system is suppressed."

  • This is the correct response. Chemotherapy can significantly weaken the immune system, making it unsafe to administer certain vaccines, particularly live vaccines, during treatment. The nurse should advise waiting until the child's immune system has recovered.

• "It's important to complete the immunizations because your child needs to be protected from childhood diseases that could be fatal."

  • While it is true that immunizations protect against potentially fatal diseases, this statement does not consider the child's current immunosuppressed state due to chemotherapy. Administering vaccines at this time could pose a risk to the child.

In summary, the nurse should advise against completing immunizations during chemotherapy due to the child's suppressed immune system.