COVID-19 Vaccination Among Individuals With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Perception, Efficacy, and Safety

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARSCoV-2, has been the most significant global health crisis of the past century. The development of safe and effective vaccines has led to a reduction in COVID19-related hospitalizations and deaths; however, the clinical trials that led to US Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization and/or approval of the vaccines in the United States did not include individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Because individuals with IBD are commonly treated with immunosuppressive medications, there had been concern for reduced vaccine efficacy in this population. This article provides an overview of the peer-reviewed literature addressing COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with IBD; details the perceptions of patients with IBD of COVID-19 vaccines, including how gastroenterologists can help to reduce vaccine hesitancy; and describes the humoral immune response to COVID-19 vaccines, with a majority of patients with IBD seroconverting following complete vaccination regardless of medication exposure. Additionally, low rates of IBD flare and similar rates of vaccine-related adverse events to those in the general population are described. Finally, the article provides current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with IBD.