COVID-19 vaccination in people with multiple sclerosis, real-life experience

Raed Alroughani 1, Jasem Al-Hashel 2, Fathi Abokalawa 3, Malak AlMojel 4, Samar Farouk Ahmed 5

Affiliations

01 September 2022

-

doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2022.107374

Abstract

Background: Vaccination against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is recommended in multiple sclerosis (MS) to reduce the risk of complications from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. These vaccines were not investigated in people with MS (PWMS).

Objective: This study aimed to report the short-term safety of the COVID-19 vaccines among PWMS.

Methods: Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA (BNT162b2) vaccine and Oxford-Astra Zenecaa chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) vaccine have been approved to be used in Kuwait since December 2021. PWMS registered in Kuwait national registry were contacted by phone, WhatsApp, or through face-to-face interviews and were invited to complete our questionnaire. Demographic, clinical data, symptoms following the vaccine, worsening of pre-existing MS symptoms, and occurrence of relapse were recorded.

Results: Of the 820 PWMS, 647 completed the questionnaire. Between January 2021 and 31 August 2021, 383 (59.28%) PWMS received at least one dose of the approved vaccinations versus 63.4% of the general population on the same date. Their mean age was 36.82 + 8.80, and most of them, 247 (64.3%), were females. A total of 356 vaccinated cohorts (92.6%) were treated with disease-modifying therapies. Adverse events were reported by 261 (68.15%) subjects. One case of COVID-19 infection was encountered after the first dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Twenty-one (5.48%) cases reported worsening of pre-existing MS symptoms after the vaccine. Five patients (1.31%) reported relapse after the COVID-19 vaccine. The most common adverse events of the COVID-19 vaccine were pain at the injection site, fatigue, low-grade fever, and body ache; and resolved within one week. There was no significant association between use of disease modifying therapy (DMT) and COVID-19 vaccine adverse events.

Conclusion: BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 are safe for PWMS. No increased risk of relapse activity or worsening of pre-existing MS symptoms.

Keywords: COVID-19; Kuwait; Multiple sclerosis; Vaccination.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest RA is an Advisory Board member of Bayer, Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi- Genzyme, and received honoraria for speaking or consultation fees from Bayer, Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme. He is also the principal investigator in clinical trials for Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme. SFA acted as Advisory Board members of Bayer, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi- Genzyme, and received honoraria for speaking or consultation fees from, Bayer, Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme. She is also the co-investigator in clinical trials for Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme. JA is an Advisory Board member and received honoraria for speaking from Bayer, Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi- Genzyme. FA and MA declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1 Stratification of adverse events by Vaccine.

Fig. 1 Stratification of adverse events by Vaccine.

Fig. 2 Severity of adverse events.

Fig. 2 Severity of adverse events.

Fig. 3 Duration of adverse events.

Fig. 3 Duration of adverse events.

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