Varicella-zoster virus reactivation after SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination: Report of 5 cases
Pedro Rodríguez‐Jiménez, Pablo Chicharro, Luisa-Martos Cabrera, Mireia Seguí, Álvaro Morales-Caballero, Mar Llamas‐Velasco, J. Sánchez‐Pérez
Abstract
A few months ago, we reported that to consider vesicular exanthems associated with COVID-19, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus must be ruled out.1 The natural history of herpes zoster is influenced by the immune status of the host. Reactivation is influenced by age-related immunosenescence, disease-related immunocompromised state, or iatrogenic immunosuppression, with age being the major risk factor for most cases of herpes zoster. Among VZV reactivation triggers, vaccines are not common, and excluding herpes zoster appearing after VZV vaccination, we have found only 1 case of a child who experienced herpes zoster after diphtheria/tetanus/acellular pertussis, inactivated polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and meningococcal C vaccine.