Evaluation of short-term safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with multiple sclerosis from Latin America
Ricardo Alonso, Aníbal Chertcoff, Felisa Leguizamón, Lorna Galleguillos, María Bárbara Eizaguirre, Roberto Rodríguez, Marta Sosa, Susana Carballido, Verónica Cruchet, Agnes de Jong-Martis, Susana Giachello, Paula Henestroza, Flavia Ferrandina, Johana Bauer, Adriana Carrá, Berenice Silva
Abstract
Background To date, there are no data available on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in Latin American patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Objective Characterize safety of COVID-19 vaccines in Latin American (LATAM) patients with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). Methods A cross-sectional study between February 1, 2021, and April 30, 2021. Individuals with MS from LATAM countries were invited to participate in a self-administered web-based survey, through MS patient organizations from the region. Results 393 vaccinated pwMS from 10 different Latin American countries were included. The vaccines administered were: inactivated virus vaccines (IVV) in 38.2% of patients, adenovirus vector vaccines (AdV) in 48.8% and mRNA vaccines 13%. All patients received at least one dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines and 123 (31.3%) declared receiving a second dose. Mean (SD) age 41.5 (11.8) years, 82.4% female, MS disease duration: 8.4 (8.2) years. No serious adverse events were reported with any of the COVID-19 vaccines after either the first or second dose. A lower frequency of adverse events was found with IVV (22%) in comparison with AdV (46.4%) and mRNA (35.3%) ( p < 0.01). Five participants reported having an MS relapse after IVV first dose. Conclusion COVID-19 vaccines applied in LATAM proved safe for MS patients.