Herpes zoster after COVID vaccination
C S van Dam1, I Lede2, J Schaar3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Zaans Medical Centre, Zaandam, the Netherlands.
Summary
Two adults developed herpes zoster, or shingles, after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This may be linked to temporary lymphocytopenia, a condition also seen in COVID-19 disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Dermatology
Background:
- COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system but can manifest with skin conditions.
- Reactivation of latent viruses, such as varicella-zoster virus (VZV), has been noted in COVID-19 patients.
Observation:
- This case report details two adult patients who developed herpes zoster (shingles) following vaccination with tozinameran (Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine).
Findings:
- The observed herpes zoster cases suggest a potential association with COVID-19 vaccination.
- Transient lymphocytopenia post-vaccination is a hypothesized mechanism, mirroring effects seen in active COVID-19 infection.
Implications:
- These findings warrant further investigation into the relationship between COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 infection, and herpes zoster reactivation.
- Consideration of this potential side effect is crucial, especially for elderly or immunocompromised populations receiving vaccination.
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