Cutaneous adverse events following COVID‐19 vaccination: A case series of 30 Japanese patients and a review of 93 Japanese studies

Abstract

In Japan, cutaneous adverse events (AEs) following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination have been frequently described; however, a larger case series and literature review are lacking. There is an urgent need for an extensive investigation of new cases and previous reports to provide a thorough body of information about post‐COVID‐19 immunization cutaneous AEs. We aimed to analyze patients with cutaneous AEs after COVID‐19 vaccination in our hospital and review previous studies of cutaneous AEs. We analyzed post‐COVID‐19 vaccination cutaneous AEs in our department, the Japanese Registry, and previous literature. We enrolled 30 patients with cutaneous post‐vaccination AEs in our department over 2 years (April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023). We also confirmed cases registered in the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare COVID‐19 vaccine side effect reporting system (February 17, 2021–March 12, 2023). A total of 587 records were retrieved and 93 articles were included for data extraction. A total of 28 non‐injection‐site cutaneous AEs and two injection‐site AEs were identified. Six (20.0%) patients developed new‐onset erythematous eruptions, and five (16.7%) patients developed urticaria. Pruritic eruption, eczema, shingles, and sweating symptoms have also been reported. In previous studies on non‐injection‐site cutaneous AEs, individuals who received the BNT162b2 vaccine were older than those who received mRNA‐1273 (P < 0.01). Cutaneous AEs were mostly nonsignificant and self‐limiting reactions; however, rare, severe, or life‐threatening AEs were also reported. Physicians should be aware of the various possible cutaneous AEs associated with the COVID‐19 vaccination.