Frontiers in Neurology (Jun 2022)

Analysis of Side Effects Following Vaccination Against COVID-19 Among Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis Treated With DMTs in Poland

  • Agata Czarnowska,
  • Joanna Tarasiuk,
  • Olga Zajkowska,
  • Marcin Wnuk,
  • Monika Marona,
  • Klaudia Nowak,
  • Agnieszka Słowik,
  • Anna Jamroz-Wiśniewska,
  • Konrad Rejdak,
  • Beata Lech,
  • Małgorzata Popiel,
  • Iwona Rościszewska-Żukowska,
  • Adam Perenc,
  • Halina Bartosik-Psujek,
  • Mariola Świderek-Matysiak,
  • Małgorzata Siger,
  • Agnieszka Ciach,
  • Agata Walczak,
  • Anna Jurewicz,
  • Mariusz Stasiołek,
  • Karolina Kania,
  • Klara Dyczkowska,
  • Alicja Kalinowska-Łyszczarz,
  • Weronika Galus,
  • Anna Walawska-Hrycek,
  • Ewa Krzystanek,
  • Justyna Chojdak-Łukasiewicz,
  • Jakub Ubysz,
  • Anna Pokryszko-Dragan,
  • Katarzyna Kapica-Topczewska,
  • Monika Chorąży,
  • Marcin Bazylewicz,
  • Anna Mirończuk,
  • Joanna Kulikowska,
  • Jan Kochanowicz,
  • Marta Białek,
  • Małgorzata Stolarz,
  • Katarzyna Kubicka-Bączyk,
  • Natalia Niedziela,
  • Paweł Warmus,
  • Monika Adamczyk-Sowa,
  • Aleksandra Podlecka-Piçtowska,
  • Monika Nojszewska,
  • Beata Zakrzewska-Pniewska,
  • Elżbieta Jasińska,
  • Elżbieta Jasińska,
  • Jacek Zaborski,
  • Marta Milewska-Jȩdrzejczak,
  • Jacek Zwiernik,
  • Jacek Zwiernik,
  • Beata Zwiernik,
  • Beata Zwiernik,
  • Andrzej Potemkowski,
  • Waldemar Brola,
  • Alina Kułakowska

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.913283
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

Read online

Background and ObjectivesSince vaccination against COVID-19 is available for over a year and the population of immunized individuals with autoimmune disorders is higher than several months before, an evaluation of safety and registered adverse events can be made. We conducted a large study of side effects following the COVID-19 vaccine among patients with multiple (MS) sclerosis treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and analyzed factors predisposing for particular adverse events.MethodsWe gathered data of individuals with MS treated with DMTs from 19 Polish MS Centers, who reported at least one adverse event following COVID-19 vaccination. The information was obtained by neurologists using a questionnaire. The same questionnaire was used at all MS Centers. To assess the relevance of reported adverse events, we used Fisher's exact test, t-test, and U-Menn-Whutney test.ResultsA total of 1,668 patients with MS and reports of adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination were finally included in the study. Besides one case marked as “red flag”, all adverse events were classified as mild. Pain at the injection site was the most common adverse event, with a greater frequency after the first dose. Pain at the injection site was significantly more frequent after the first dose among individuals with a lower disability (EDSS ≤2). The reported adverse events following immunization did not differ over sex. According to age, pain at the injection site was more common among individuals between 30 and 40 years old, only after the first vaccination dose. None of the DMTs predisposed for particular side effects.ConclusionsAccording to our findings, vaccination against COVID-19 among patients with MS treated with DMTs is safe. Our study can contribute to reducing hesitancy toward vaccination among patients with MS.

Keywords