Immunization against Covid-19 in a Population of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Immunization against COVID-19 in Paraguay began in February 2021, and patients with rheumatic diseases were the preferred population to get vaccinated. Up to December 2022 the immunization coverage in Paraguay was 59.4%, with at least one vaccine dose. 52.4% accessed the primary immunization schedule (two doses), while 28.6% had at least one booster dose. Only 7.1% received the complete schedule. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of vaccination, the number of doses, and the type of vaccines against COVID-19 in Paraguayan patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Method(s) Descriptive, cross sectional, observational study, in a Paraguayan cohort of RA patients meeting the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria, under follow-up in two Rheumatology reference centers, from October to December 2022. A standardized questionnaire according to the variables included (clinical, vaccination, vaccine type, number of doses)was made. Quantitative variables were presented as means and qualitative as frequencies. Result(s) 568 patients with RA were included, 84.1% were female, mean age 55.48 +/- 13.94 years. The average number vaccinations doses received was 2.54 +/- 1.19. 88.7% of patients acquired at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 85%obtained two doses;and, while 60.9% of patients received the first booster, 21.2% had the second one. The table describes the characteristics of the received vaccines. Conclusion(s) In this series of Paraguayan RA patients, vaccination against COVID-19 was higher than the general population, perhaps due to priority of patients with rheumatic diseases receiving immunization, and frequent access to medical care with physician's prompting them to receive the vaccine. While over 80% of patients have a complete primary schedule, and more than 60% received the first booster;only 21% have a complete immunization schedule, which is still much higher than the general population of Paraguay.