Adverse Events and Serological Responses After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Individuals With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

We determined adverse events after 4 doses of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine in those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), associations between antibodies and injection site reactions (ISR), and risk of IBD flare. METHODS:Individuals with IBD were interviewed for adverse events to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Multivariable linear regression assessed the association between antibody titers and ISR. RESULTS:Severe adverse events occurred in 0.03%. ISR were significantly associated with antibody levels after the fourth dose (geometric mean ratio 5 2.56; 95% confidence interval 1.18-5.57). No cases of IBD flare occurred. DISCUSSION:SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are safe for those with IBD. ISR after the fourth dose may indicate increased antibodies.

The risk of COVID-19 in IBD patients is increased by urban living and is not influenced by disease activity or intravenous biologics

“…These real-world data on the risk of COVID-19 in IBD patients treated with intravenous biologics outside any vaccination context are important for physicians who are confronted daily with patients reluctant to be vaccinated. Indeed, although the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in IBD patients is now well established ( 34 ), a significant proportion of patients, especially the youngest ( 28 ), still wonder on the risk-benefit ratio of being vaccinated, perhaps with good reason given the low prevalence of COVID-19 in this cohort of IBD patients established before any vaccination, and the lower risk of severe form of COVID-19 in young patients than in the elderly ( 12 ). Thus, these data from the MICI-SARS-COV-2 study will enable physicians to emphasize the importance of maintaining sanitary barrier measures to these vaccine-refractory patients.…”

“…Serologic response is good after vaccination in patients with IBD ( 30 , 31 ), although lower with anti-TNF agents than with other treatments including vedolizumab ( 32 ). Real-word data have also proven the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in IBD patients ( 33 , 34 ). Nevertheless, it is important to be able to provide patients with data regarding the risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 and the factors associated with this risk, especially when treated with biologics, outside any vaccination context.…”