Varicella Zoster Reactivation Following mRNA Vaccination: Two Case Reports and a Review of Cutaneous Adverse Events of COVID-19 Vaccines

Abstract

Cutaneous reactions following the COVID-19 vaccination, in particular mRNA vaccines, have been increasingly reported in literature. The most common morphologies were delayed large local reactions, local injection site reactions, urticaria, and morbilliform reaction. The purpose of this report is to review the cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 vaccines and to report two cases of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-induced varicella zoster reactivation along with the possible pathogenesis. These two cases are of an 80-year-old female patient with multiple comorbidities and a previously healthy 57-year-old male patient who experienced varicella zoster reactivation post-COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (Pfizer, New York City, New York, USA) following the first and second dose