Chinese expert consensus on coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination for patients with multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (2019‑nCoV), has constituted a major worldwide public health event. At present, vaccination against COVID‑19 is being actively promoted in order to establish a population immune barrier. Here consensus guidance is given on the safety and efficacy of COVID‑19 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). Overall, the risk of 2019‑nCoV infection in MS or NMOSD patients is not increased than that in the general population. The existing vaccines against COVID‑19 do not cause vaccine‑derived infection in patients receiving any immune interventions, although the effectiveness of vaccine may be reduced in some cases (such as the use of sphingosine‑1‑phosphate receptor modulator or B‑cell depletion agent). There is no sufficient evidence that vaccination will aggravate MS or NMOSD, or directly lead to disease recurrence. Therefore, after fully informed consent and pre‑assessment of vaccination‑related risk, it should be recommended that MS and NMOSD patients with stable disease control be vaccinated against COVID‑19.