Can I get a vaccine while I am receiving docetaxel injections?

You should not receive any vaccines either during or immediately after treatment with docetaxel unless you talk to your doctor first. Docetaxel is a chemotherapy drug used to treat certain cancers of the lung, breast, stomach, prostate, head and neck. It can cause changes in your immune system that could make vaccinations ineffective or allow them to cause serious infections. While you are being treated with docetaxel, you should avoid contact with anyone who has recently received a live vaccine, such as the smallpox vaccine or the oral polio vaccine. Talk to your doctor for more information about docetaxel and vaccine safety.