tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Mult Scler
. 2021 Apr 15;13524585211003476.
doi: 10.1177/13524585211003476. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis: What we have learnt by February 2021
Anat Achiron[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mark Dolev[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shay Menascu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daniela-Noa Zohar[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sapir Dreyer-Alster[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shmuel Miron[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Emanuel Shirbint[SUP] 1 [/SUP], David Magalashvili[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shlomo Flechter[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Uri Givon[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Diana Guber[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yael Stern[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michael Polliack[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rina Falb[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michael Gurevich[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Since vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became available, risks related to vaccinating patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) need to be carefully assessed.
Objective: Characterize safety and occurrence of immediate relapses following COVID-19 vaccination in a large cohort of MS patients.
Methods: We assessed the safety of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination in adult MS patients.
Results: Between 20 December 2020 and 25 January 2021, 555 MS patients received the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccine and 435 received the second dose. There were three cases of COVID-19 infection encountered after the first dose. Safety profile of COVID-19 vaccine was characterized by pain at the injection site, fatigue, and headache. No increased risk of relapse activity was noted over a median follow-up of 20 and 38 days after first and second vaccine doses, respectively. The rate of patients with acute relapse was 2.1% and 1.6% following the first and second doses, respectively, similar to the rate in non-vaccinating patients during the corresponding period. Mild increase in the rate of adverse events was noted in younger patients (18-55 years), among patients with lower disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ?3.0), and in patients treated with immunomodulatory drugs.
Conclusion: COVID-19 BNT162b2 vaccine proved safe for MS patients. No increased risk of relapse activity was noted.
Keywords: COVID-19; Multiple sclerosis; acute relapse; adverse events; immune response; vaccination.
. 2021 Apr 15;13524585211003476.
doi: 10.1177/13524585211003476. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis: What we have learnt by February 2021
Anat Achiron[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mark Dolev[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shay Menascu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daniela-Noa Zohar[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sapir Dreyer-Alster[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shmuel Miron[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Emanuel Shirbint[SUP] 1 [/SUP], David Magalashvili[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shlomo Flechter[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Uri Givon[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Diana Guber[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yael Stern[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michael Polliack[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rina Falb[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michael Gurevich[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33856242
- DOI: 10.1177/13524585211003476
Abstract
Background: Since vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became available, risks related to vaccinating patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) need to be carefully assessed.
Objective: Characterize safety and occurrence of immediate relapses following COVID-19 vaccination in a large cohort of MS patients.
Methods: We assessed the safety of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination in adult MS patients.
Results: Between 20 December 2020 and 25 January 2021, 555 MS patients received the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccine and 435 received the second dose. There were three cases of COVID-19 infection encountered after the first dose. Safety profile of COVID-19 vaccine was characterized by pain at the injection site, fatigue, and headache. No increased risk of relapse activity was noted over a median follow-up of 20 and 38 days after first and second vaccine doses, respectively. The rate of patients with acute relapse was 2.1% and 1.6% following the first and second doses, respectively, similar to the rate in non-vaccinating patients during the corresponding period. Mild increase in the rate of adverse events was noted in younger patients (18-55 years), among patients with lower disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ?3.0), and in patients treated with immunomodulatory drugs.
Conclusion: COVID-19 BNT162b2 vaccine proved safe for MS patients. No increased risk of relapse activity was noted.
Keywords: COVID-19; Multiple sclerosis; acute relapse; adverse events; immune response; vaccination.