SARS-COV-2 VACCINE SAFETY in ADOLESCENTS with INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATIC and MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES and ADULTS with JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS

ABSTRACT

Background: There is a lack of data on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination safety in children and young people (CYP) with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Current vaccination guidance is based on data from adults with RMDs or CYP without RMDs. Objectives: To describe the characteristics and outcomes of adolescents with infammatory RMDs and adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: We described patient characteristics, fares, and adverse events in adolescent cases under 18 with infammatory RMDs and adult cases aged 18 or above with JIA submitted to the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) COVAX registry. Results: Thirty-six adolescent cases were reported from 4 countries, the most frequent diagnosis was JIA (42%). Over half (56%) reported early reactogen-ic-like adverse events (AEs) experienced within 7 days of vaccination. One mild polyarthralgia fare and one serious AE (malaise) were reported. No CYP reported SARS-CoV-2 infection post-vaccination. In addition to the adolescent cases, eleven countries reported 74 adult JIA cases. Among these, 62% reported early reactogenic-like AEs and two fares were reported (mild polyarthralgia and moderate uveitis). No serious AEs of special interest were reported among adults with JIA. Three 20-30 year old females were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 post-vaccination;all fully recovered. Conclusion: In this observational registry dataset, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines appeared safe in adolescents with RMDs and adults with JIA, with a low frequency of disease fares, serious AEs, and SARS-CoV-2 re-infection seen in both populations.