tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Expert Rev Vaccines
. 2026 Dec;25(1):2735166.
doi: 10.1080/14760584.2026.2735166. Epub 2026 Sep 17.
Philipp Pries 1 2 , Jan Fuge 1 3 , Michele Scharbau 1 4 , Lennart Boblitz 1 3 , Andrea Sauer 1 5 , Nora Drick 1 3 , Benjamin-Alexander Bollmann 1 3 , Jannik Ruwisch 1 3 , Marius M Hoeper 1 3 , Isabell Pink 1 3
Affiliations Expand
Background: Patients with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) fear SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-linked symptom aggravation. Data on objective functional outcomes are limited.
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of an observational cohort at a post-COVID outpatient clinic at Hannover Medical School with standardized assessments at baseline and follow-up visit (3-6 months) in adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and PASC. Participants were classified as vaccination (receipt of an additional SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose between visits) or no vaccination. Primary outcomes were fatigue (Fatigue Assessment Scale) and exercise capacity (6-minute walk distance). Propensity scores matching (1:1 nearest-neighbor, ATT; caliper 0.2 SD) was performed using logistic regression. Group differences were assessed using t-tests/χ2 tests with Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment. Longitudinal changes were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models.
Results: Of 193 eligible patients, 174 were analyzed, 148 remained after matching (74 per group). No significant differences between the groups were observed at baseline or follow-up after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Both groups improved over time, with no statistically significant difference in fatigue or exercise capacity.
Conclusions: Fatigue and functional performance improved over time regardless of vaccination status. We found no statistically significant association between mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and worsening symptoms or impaired recovery, although smaller effects cannot be excluded.
Keywords: Exercise capacity; PASC; SARS-CoV-2; fatigue; vaccination.
. 2026 Dec;25(1):2735166.
doi: 10.1080/14760584.2026.2735166. Epub 2026 Sep 17.
Association of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with fatigue and functional recovery in patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)
Philipp Pries 1 2 , Jan Fuge 1 3 , Michele Scharbau 1 4 , Lennart Boblitz 1 3 , Andrea Sauer 1 5 , Nora Drick 1 3 , Benjamin-Alexander Bollmann 1 3 , Jannik Ruwisch 1 3 , Marius M Hoeper 1 3 , Isabell Pink 1 3
Affiliations Expand
- PMID: 42755271
- DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2026.2735166
Abstract
Background: Patients with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) fear SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-linked symptom aggravation. Data on objective functional outcomes are limited.
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of an observational cohort at a post-COVID outpatient clinic at Hannover Medical School with standardized assessments at baseline and follow-up visit (3-6 months) in adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and PASC. Participants were classified as vaccination (receipt of an additional SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose between visits) or no vaccination. Primary outcomes were fatigue (Fatigue Assessment Scale) and exercise capacity (6-minute walk distance). Propensity scores matching (1:1 nearest-neighbor, ATT; caliper 0.2 SD) was performed using logistic regression. Group differences were assessed using t-tests/χ2 tests with Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment. Longitudinal changes were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models.
Results: Of 193 eligible patients, 174 were analyzed, 148 remained after matching (74 per group). No significant differences between the groups were observed at baseline or follow-up after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Both groups improved over time, with no statistically significant difference in fatigue or exercise capacity.
Conclusions: Fatigue and functional performance improved over time regardless of vaccination status. We found no statistically significant association between mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and worsening symptoms or impaired recovery, although smaller effects cannot be excluded.
Keywords: Exercise capacity; PASC; SARS-CoV-2; fatigue; vaccination.