The Safety Profile of Common COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Background and objective Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In light of the COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in late 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed mass immunization to enhance the population's immunity against the virus. However, certain concerns have been raised about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines among patients with autoimmune disorders, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS). Further research is required to address these concerns and to gain deeper insights into the possible complications of COVID-19 vaccines among MS patients. This study aimed to assess the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines among MS patients. Methods An observational cross-sectional study was conducted between May and November 2023 at the National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All MS patients enrolled in our local registry system and provided phone numbers were included in the study. A total of 208 MS patients were surveyed via phone interviews, and data were collected regarding their demographics, MS history, COVID-19 history, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, and their exposure to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). All results were analyzed using Stata software. Statistical significance was set at a CI of 95% and a p-value <0.05. Results In our cohort, 128 (61.5%) patients had received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 68 (32.7%) had received two doses; four patients (2.0%) had received only one dose, five (2.4%) had not received the vaccine, and the number of doses was unknown for the remaining three patients (1.4%). The BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech was the most commonly administered (n=136 patients, 66.0%), followed byChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (n=47 patients, 22.8%), and mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine from Moderna (n=5 patients, 2.4%). Of note, 139 patients (69.5%) reported experiencing adverse events after receiving the vaccine, and the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca was significantly associated with higher rates of side effects, in 87.8% of the patients. Conclusion A sizable proportion of MS patients experienced self-limiting side effects from exposure to the COVID-19 vaccine. The rates and incidence of side effects were similar to those encountered in the general population. None of the adverse effects recorded in our population of MS patients were serious or life-threatening. We recommend that physicians encourage patients with MS who have never received COVID-19 vaccination to get promptly vaccinated as the risks of COVID-19 infection far outweigh the minor risks associated with COVID-19 vaccination.