COVID Vaccine and MS Relapse Risk: New Data

TOPLINE:

There is no link between the COVID-19 vaccination and an increased risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse in most patients. However, there is a small increase in the risk for relapse following receipt of the COVID-19 booster in those with high MS activity.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted an observational study using data from the French National Health Data System.
• 124,545 patients with MS were identified on January 1, 2021; 82.3% received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Analysis included data following the first three doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
• The primary outcome was MS relapses requiring hospitalization and treatment with high-dose corticosteroids within a 45-day risk period after each vaccine dose.

TAKEAWAY:

• There was no association with increased relapse risk following the first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or the booster dose.
• In a subgroup analysis, booster dose was associated with a 28% higher risk for relapse in patients who had two or more relapses in the previous 2 years (incidence rate ratio, 1.28; P = .006), especially untreated patients.
• To confirm these findings, researchers also conducted a case-time control study, which did not show an increase in risk for relapse after any of the three doses.
• Investigators found an association between vaccination and decreased relapse risk (odds ratio, 0.90; P = .01).

IN PRACTICE:

“Our findings are reassuring that these vaccines can be used without any worry about the risk of relapse,” lead author Xavier Moisset, MD, PhD, of Clermont Auvergne University in Clermont-Ferrand, France, said in a press release, adding “the absence of such a risk is encouraging for people with MS that they may receive booster shots when needed, especially if booster shots are to be repeated in the future.” 

SOURCE:

The study was led by Moisset and colleagues and was published online on August 14 in Neurology.

LIMITATIONS:

The main limitation was the reliance on hospital care and drug reimbursement data, which lacked clinical information. Benign relapses may have been underreported. Additionally, pseudo-relapses may have been mistakenly identified as actual relapses.

DISCLOSURES:

The study did not receive any specific funding. Some authors declared receiving financial and nonfinancial support from various pharmaceutical companies. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article. Full disclosures are available in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.