Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Vaccinations before and after splenectomy | CION Cancer Clinics
After a splenectomy you need vaccines against pneumococcus, meningococcus and Hib, plus a flu vaccine every year. For a planned operation they are ideally given at least two weeks before surgery; after an emergency operation, about two weeks afterwards. This page lists each vaccine, the usual schedule, what changes if you are on chemotherapy, and where to get them in Hyderabad. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MI
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed ImaduddinConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Surgical Oncology) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
17+specialists on panel
15,000+patients treated
35+centres across Telangana & AP
4.8★ / 800+Google rating
On this page
- Which vaccines do you need, and when?
- The four vaccines, and what each one is for
- When each vaccine is usually given
- Vaccinated before the operation, or after
- Where do you get them in India, and what do they cost?
- What families assume about the vaccines, and what is actually true
- Common questions about vaccines after splenectomy
The short answer
Which vaccines do you need, and when?
After a splenectomy you need vaccines against three bacteria, pneumococcus, meningococcus and Hib, plus a flu vaccine every year. For a planned operation they are ideally given at least two weeks before surgery. If the operation could not wait, they are given about two weeks after it instead, once you are recovering.
Why the timing matters
A vaccine works by teaching the immune system to recognise a germ, and the spleen is one of the main places that lesson is learned. Giving the vaccines while the spleen is still there produces a stronger, longer response. That is why surgeons plan them into the weeks before the operation rather than leaving them for afterwards.
Who this schedule does not fit as written
Anyone on chemotherapy, steroids or medicines that act on immune cells, because those blunt the response and some vaccines are delayed until they will work. Children, who follow a schedule set by their paediatrician. And anyone who had a splenectomy years ago and was never vaccinated, who should simply start now. This page gives the usual pattern; your own dates come from your team.
Keep a written vaccine record with your splenectomy card. It is the only way any doctor, years from now, can tell what is due.The list
The four vaccines, and what each one is for
All are widely available in Hyderabad at cancer centres, large hospitals and many private clinics. Ask for the vaccine names to be written on your record.
Pneumococcal
Against the commonest cause of serious infection without a spleen. Usually given as two different vaccines some weeks apart: a conjugate vaccine first, then a broader polysaccharide vaccine. The second one is repeated as a booster on a schedule your doctor sets.
On your record as
- PCV (conjugate)
- PPSV23 (polysaccharide)
Meningococcal
Against the bacterium that causes meningitis and blood poisoning. There are two vaccines because there are several strains: one covers groups A, C, W and Y; the other covers group B. Boosters are advised for the first.
On your record as
- MenACWY
- MenB
Hib
Against Haemophilus influenzae type b, a bacterium unrelated to the flu virus despite the name. Most Indian adults were not given it as children, so a single dose is usual after splenectomy.
Influenza, every year
The flu itself is a virus, but a bacterial chest infection often follows it, and that is the danger without a spleen. A yearly flu vaccine, ideally before the monsoon, lowers that chance.
Ask your team about COVID-19 boosters as well; the reasoning is the same.Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistTypical schedule
When each vaccine is usually given
-
Planned operation: two weeks or more before
Pneumococcal conjugate, MenACWY, MenB and Hib are given at the pre-operative visit, ideally at least two weeks before surgery. Some centres give the flu vaccine at the same visit in season.
-
Emergency operation: about two weeks after
If there was no time beforehand, the same vaccines are given once you are recovering, usually around two weeks after the operation. Later is still far better than never.
-
The second doses
The broader pneumococcal vaccine follows the first some weeks later, and MenB needs a second dose. Your record should show the dates for both.
-
If you are having chemotherapy
Some vaccines are held until the course is finished or until counts recover, because they will not take properly. Your oncologist sets these dates, not the general schedule.
-
For life
A flu vaccine every year. Pneumococcal and MenACWY boosters every few years on the schedule your doctor writes on the record. Check at each annual review that nothing is overdue.
Side by side
Vaccinated before the operation, or after
Before a planned splenectomy
After an emergency splenectomy
Given at least two weeks before, while the spleen is still there
Given about two weeks after, once you are recovering
Stronger and longer-lasting response
A good response, though somewhat weaker; boosters matter more
Usually done at the surgical pre-assessment visit
Usually done at the first follow-up visit; ask if it is not offered
Antibiotics start after the operation as the team advises
Antibiotics often start straight away to cover the gap
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Practical matters
Where do you get them in India, and what do they cost?
All four vaccines are available in Hyderabad and the larger district towns. Cancer centres and big hospitals usually stock them or can order them within days. Private vaccination clinics and some chain pharmacies also supply them, though you may need a prescription and a nurse to give the injection.
What they cost
The adult vaccines are paid for out of pocket in most cases. The pneumococcal conjugate and meningococcal vaccines are the more expensive ones; Hib and flu are cheaper. Prices differ between brands and between centres, so ask for a written figure before the visit. Some insurers and schemes cover vaccines when they are part of a cancer treatment plan; ask your centre to check yours.
What to do if you were never vaccinated
This is common in people whose spleen was removed years ago, often after an accident. The advice is simple: start now. There is no age after which the vaccines stop being worthwhile, and your doctor does not need the old records to begin. Bring whatever paperwork you have and say clearly that you have no spleen.
Indicative prices change and this page does not print them. Ask your centre for a current written quote.Commonly believed
What families assume about the vaccines, and what is actually true
"She had all her childhood vaccines, so she is covered."
Childhood schedules in India did not include most of these, and protection from the ones they did include fades. The splenectomy vaccines are given again as an adult, on their own schedule, whatever was done in childhood.
"The flu jab is optional; it is only flu."
Without a spleen, flu matters because of what follows it. A bacterial chest infection after flu is one of the commoner ways serious illness starts. The yearly vaccine is the cheapest item on the list and one of the most useful.
"Once vaccinated, the fever rule can be relaxed."
No vaccine covers every strain, and none lasts forever. Vaccines lower the risk; they do not remove it. The same-day rule for any fever, and the splenectomy card, stay for life.
"He is on chemotherapy, so vaccines are dangerous now."
These are not live vaccines, so they are not dangerous during chemotherapy. The issue is that they may not work well while counts are low, so some are delayed. Your oncologist decides the timing; do not skip them altogether.
Did you know
The word "Hib" on a vaccine record has nothing to do with the flu. It stands for Haemophilus influenzae type b, a bacterium named in the 1890s when scientists wrongly thought it caused influenza. The name stuck long after the mistake was corrected.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about vaccines after splenectomy
Can all the vaccines be given on the same day?
Usually yes. The first pneumococcal, MenACWY, MenB and Hib doses are often given at one visit, in different arms. The second doses come later, which is why there is more than one appointment. Ask the nurse to write every vaccine name and date on your record before you leave.
What side effects should I expect?
A sore arm, mild fever and tiredness for a day or two are common and expected. Here is the difficulty: a fever after a splenectomy also follows the same-day rule. Tell the clinic the vaccines were just given, and if in doubt be seen. A serious allergic reaction is rare and is watched for at the clinic.
My spleen was removed ten years ago. Is it too late?
No. Start now. The risk of serious infection never goes away, so protection is worthwhile at any point. Your doctor will give the full set as if the operation were recent, and set up the booster schedule from today. Bring any old records, but do not delay because you cannot find them.
Are these vaccines free under Aarogyasri or a government scheme?
Adult splenectomy vaccines are not usually part of the routine free programme, and in most cases they are paid for out of pocket. Some schemes and insurers cover them when they are written into a cancer treatment plan. Ask your centre to check before the visit rather than after.
Do I need boosters, and how often?
Yes, for some of them. The broader pneumococcal vaccine and MenACWY are repeated every few years, and flu is yearly. The exact intervals depend on which brands you received and your age, so they should be written on your record. Check at each annual review that nothing is overdue.
Do the vaccines mean I can stop preventive antibiotics?
Not on your own. Vaccines and antibiotics do different jobs, and whether you need both depends on your age, the reason for the operation and any other treatment. Your team reviews the antibiotic decision over time. Raise the question at a visit rather than stopping quietly.
Should my child have the same vaccines?
Children without a spleen need the same protection, but the doses and spacing follow the childhood schedule and are set by the paediatrician. Many of these vaccines are already part of a child's routine visits, so the extra ones are added rather than the whole set repeated.
What if I cannot remember which ones I have had?
Ask the centre where the operation was done; the vaccines are usually in the discharge summary. If nothing can be found, your doctor will generally repeat them rather than guess, because an extra dose is safe and a missed one is not. From then on, keep the record with your card.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
Sources
- NHS — Spleen problems and spleen removal
- NHS — Pneumococcal vaccine
- NHS — Flu vaccine
- National Cancer Institute — Splenectomy (NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms)
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Infection Risk After Splenectomy: The Lifelong IssueWhy these particular germs matterPreventive Antibiotics After SplenectomyThe second layer of protectionFever Without a Spleen: Why It Is an EmergencyThe rule that stays even after vaccinesSplenectomy in Children With CancerHow the schedule differs for a childThe Days Before Your OperationWhere the pre-operative vaccines fit in
Talk to us
Not sure which vaccines you have had?
Call the helpline or send us your discharge summary. We will check your record and tell you what is due. One helpline serves every CION centre.