Frequency and Predictors of Relapses following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Interim Results from a Longitudinal Observational Study

Vaccination status and self-reported side effects after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in relation to psychological and clinical variables in patients with multiple sclerosis

The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the vaccination campaign posed a challenge to patients with autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed for investigating whether psychological/sociodemographic/clinical characteristics of MS patients are associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status and self-reported vaccination side effects (SEs). We have asked patients with MS about their willingness to receive recommended standard vaccinations pre-pandemically since June 2019. Between 10/2021 and 01/2022, we surveyed 193 of these MS patients about their current SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, their perception of vaccination-related SEs, and reasons for and against SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. 75.6% of the patients declared their willingness to receive standard vaccinations before the pandemic. 84.5%, 78.2%, and 13.0% of the patients had received the first, second, and third SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, respectively, until the follow-up survey. The most common reason for not getting vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 was concern about possible side effects (82.1%), followed by the belief that the vaccines had not been adequately tested (64.3%). Vaccination-related SEs were reported by 52.8% of the patients. Younger age, higher education, lower degree of disability, relapsing disease course, shorter disease duration, not receiving a disease-modifying therapy and higher anxiety and depression levels were associated with the occurrence of certain vaccination-related SEs. Concerns about novel vaccines are widespread among MS patients and necessitate targeted education of the patients, especially to those with more severe psychopathological symptoms (anxiety or depression) and those who are generally skeptical of vaccination.

COVID-19 Infection in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Rituximab Compared to Natalizumab and Healthy Controls: A Real-World Multicenter Study

INTRODUCTION

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) undergoing various immunomodulating therapies can vary. Individuals on B-cell therapy, such as rituximab, may be more susceptible to infection compared to those treated with natalizumab.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection in patients receiving rituximab, natalizumab, and healthy controls.

METHODS

This retrospective multicentric study included data derived from a centralized MS registry of four centers in South India. Data of patients on rituximab and natalizumab recruited between 2020 February and 2022 December were extracted from the registry and analyzed. The outcomes studied were the occurrence of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, death, post-COVID-19 relapses, and post-vaccine relapses. These outcomes were compared between the treatment groups and the matched controls.

RESULTS

COVID-19 infection occurred in 49.1% (26/53) of those on rituximab, 19.2% (5/26) of those on natalizumab, and 11.5% (6/52) of healthy controls. In addition, 8/53 (15.1%) in the rituximab group and 1/26 (3.8%) in the natalizumab group were hospitalized. All 6/52 (11.5%) in the control group had mild infection, and none were hospitalized. No deaths occurred in any group. On statistical analysis, the occurrence of COVID-19 infection in the rituximab group was significantly higher when compared to natalizumab ( P = 0.0141) and healthy controls ( P < 0.001). Hospitalizations were significantly higher in the rituximab group when compared to healthy controls ( P < 0.006).

CONCLUSION

MS patients treated with rituximab were more likely to experience COVID-19 infection compared to those treated with natalizumab and healthy controls. Hospitalization was more frequently seen in patients treated with rituximab compared to healthy controls.

Global burden of vaccine-associated multiple sclerosis, 1967-2022: A comprehensive analysis of the international pharmacovigilance database

Vaccine-associated multiple sclerosis (MS) is rare, with insufficient evidence from case reports. Given the scarcity of large-scale data investigating the association between vaccine administration and adverse events, we investigated the global burden of vaccine-associated MS and potential related vaccines from 1967 to 2022. Reports on vaccine-associated MS between 1967 and 2022 were obtained from the World Health Organization International Pharmacovigilance Database (total number of reports = 120 715 116). We evaluated global reports, reporting odds ratio (ROR), and information components (IC) to investigate associations between 19 vaccines and vaccine-associated MS across 156 countries and territories. We identified 8288 reports of vaccine-associated MS among 132 980 cases of all-cause MS. The cumulative number of reports on vaccine-associated MS gradually increased over time, with a substantial increase after 2020, owing to COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-associated MS. Vaccine-associated MS develops more frequently in males and adolescents. Nine vaccines were significantly associated with higher MS reporting, and the highest disproportional associations were observed for hepatitis B vaccines (ROR 19.82; IC025 4.18), followed by encephalitis (ROR 7.42; IC025 2.59), hepatitis A (ROR 4.46; IC025 1.95), and papillomavirus vaccines (ROR 4.45; IC025 2.01). Additionally, MS showed a significantly disproportionate signal for COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (ROR 1.55; IC025 0.52). Fatal clinical outcomes were reported in only 0.3% (21/8288) of all cases of vaccine-associated MS. Although various vaccines are potentially associated with increased risk of MS, we should be cautious about the increased risk of MS following vaccination, particularly hepatitis B and COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, and should consider the risk factors associated with vaccine-associated MS.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and multiple sclerosis: a large multicentric study on relapse risk after the third booster dose

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 vaccines have been recommended to people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and, to ensure durable immunity, a third booster dose has been administered in several countries. Data about potential risks associated with the third booster dose in pwMS, such as vaccine-triggered disease exacerbations, are still scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the administration of a third booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines was associated with an increased risk of short-term disease reactivation in a large cohort of pwMS.

METHODS

We retrospectively selected 1265 pwMS who received a third booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Demographic and clinical data were collected, including the presence, number and characteristics of relapses in the 60 days prior to and after the third booster dose.

RESULTS

In the selected cohort, the relapse rate in the two months after administration of the third booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines did not increase when compared with the prior two months. Indeed, the percentage of pwMS experiencing relapses in the 60 days following the administration of the third booster dose was 2.1%, similar to the percentage recorded in 60 days prior to vaccination, which was 1.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

The third booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines appeared to be safe for pwMS.

Occurrence and Risk Factors of Relapse Activity after Vaccination against COVID-19 in People with Multiple Sclerosis: 1-Year Follow-Up Results from a Nationwide Longitudinal Observational Study

Several studies reported post-SARS-CoV-2-vaccination (PV) symptoms. Even people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) have concerns about disease activity following the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. We aimed to determine the proportion of PwMS with PV relapses, the PV annualized relapse rate (ARR), the time from vaccination to subsequent relapses, and identify sociodemographic/clinical risk factors for PV relapses. PwMS were surveyed several times at baseline and four follow-ups as part of a longitudinal observational study regarding the safety and tolerability of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The inclusion criteria for this analysis were age ≥18 years, ≥1 SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and ≥1-year observation period since initial vaccination. Of 2466 PwMS, 13.8% reported PV relapses (mostly after second [N = 147] or booster vaccination [N = 145]) at a median of 8.0 (first/third quantile: 3.55/18.1) weeks PV, with the shortest period following initial vaccination (3.95 weeks). The ARR was 0.153 (95% confidence interval: 0.138-0.168), with a median observation period since initial vaccination of 1.2 years. Risk factors for PV relapses were younger age, female gender, moderate-severe disability levels, concurrent autoimmune diseases, relapsing-remitting MS courses, no DMT, and relapses within the year prior to the first vaccination. Patients' health conditions before/during initial vaccination may play a more important role in PV relapse occurrence than vaccination per se.