COVID-19 Vaccination in People with Multiple Sclerosis. the Kuwait Experience

ABSTRACT

Background: Two vaccine (BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) have been approved to be used in Kuwait since December 2021 Objective: To assess the safety of the vaccination in MS patients and to determine the occurrence of relapses following COVID-19 vaccination in MS patients. Material(s) and Method(s) MS patients were contacted by phone, WhatsApp, or through face-to-face interview and were invited to complete a web-based questionnaire. Demographic, clinical, medications, administration of first and second vaccine doses, symptoms following vaccine, worsening of preexisting MS symptoms and occurrence of relapse were recorded. Result(s) 482 MS patients answered the web-based questionnaire. Between January 2021 and 20 May 2021, 240 (49.8%) MS patients received at least one dose of the approved vaccination. Their mean age was 37.27 +8.95 and most of them 146 (60.8%) were females. 159 received first dose and 81 received the second dose. 126 revived BNT162b2 vaccine and 114 received ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. There was one case of COVID-19 infection encountered after the first dose of BNT162b2 vaccine. Nine cases reported worsening of preexisting MS symptoms after vaccine. One patient reported relapse after first BNT162b2 vaccine dose. The most common adverse events of COVID-19 vaccine were pain at the injection site, fatigue, low grade fever and body ache. 28 Patients on anti CD20 needed to postpone vaccine or reschedule their medications. Conclusion(s) Both BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 are safe for MS patients. There is no increased risk of relapse activity or worsening of preexisting MS symptoms were recorded.