COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among people with chronic neurological disorders: A position paper.
Eur J Neurol
; 29(8): 2163-2172, 2022 08.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1807077
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
Health risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection are undisputed. Moreover, the capability of vaccination to prevent symptomatic, severe, and fatal COVID-19 is recognized. There is also early evidence that vaccination can reduce the chance for long COVID-19. Nonetheless, the willingness to get vaccinated and receive booster shots remains subpar among people with neurologic disorders. Vaccine scepticism not only jeopardizes collective efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic but puts individual lives at risk, as some chronic neurologic diseases are associated with a higher risk for an unfavorable COVID-19 course.METHODS:
In this position paper, the NeuroCOVID-19 Task Force of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) summarizes the current knowledge on the prognosis of COVID-19 among patients with neurologic disease, elucidates potential barriers to vaccination coverage, and formulates strategies to overcome vaccination hesitancy. A survey among the Task Force members on the phenomenon of vaccination hesitancy among people with neurologic disease supports the lines of argumentation.RESULTS:
The study revealed that people with multiple sclerosis and other nervous system autoimmune disorders are most skeptical of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The prevailing concerns included the chance of worsening the pre-existing neurological condition, vaccination-related adverse events, and drug interaction.CONCLUSIONS:
The EAN NeuroCOVID-19 Task Force reinforces the key role of neurologists as advocates of COVID-19 vaccination. Neurologists need to argue in the interest of their patients about the overwhelming individual and global benefits of COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, they need to keep on eye on this vulnerable patient group, its concerns, and the emergence of potential safety signals.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19 Vaccines
/
COVID-19
/
Vaccination Hesitancy
/
Nervous System Diseases
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Topics:
Long Covid
/
Vaccines
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur J Neurol
Journal subject:
Neurology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ene.15368
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