Effect of covid-19 vaccination on long covid: systematic review

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of covid-19 vaccination, given before and after acute infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, or after a diagnosis of long covid, on the rates and symptoms of long covid.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, and Cochrane covid-19 trials, and Europe PubMed Central (Europe PMC) for preprints, from 1 January 2020 to 3 August 2022.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesTrials, cohort studies, and case-control studies reporting on patients with long covid and symptoms of long covid, with vaccination before and after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, or after a diagnosis of long covid. Risk of bias was assessed with the ROBINS-I tool.Results1645 articles were screened but no randomised controlled trials were found. 16 observational studies from five countries (USA, UK, France, Italy, and the Netherlands) were identified that reported on 614 392 patients. The most common symptoms of long covid that were studied were fatigue, cough, loss of sense of smell, shortness of breath, loss of taste, headache, muscle ache, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, worry or anxiety, and memory loss or confusion. 12 studies reported data on vaccination before infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and 10 showed a significant reduction in the incidence of long covid: the odds ratio of developing long covid with one dose of vaccine ranged from 0.22 to 1.03; with two doses, odds ratios were 0.25-1; with three doses, 0.16; and with any dose, 0.48-1.01. Five studies reported on vaccination after infection, with odds ratios of 0.38-0.91. The high heterogeneity between studies precluded any meaningful meta-analysis. The studies failed to adjust for potential confounders, such as other protective behaviours and missing data, thus increasing the risk of bias and decreasing the certainty of evidence to low.ConclusionsCurrent studies suggest that covid-19 vaccines might have protective and therapeutic effects on long covid. More robust comparative observational studies and trials are needed, however, to clearly determine the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing and treating long covid.Protocol registrationOpen Science Frameworkhttps://osf.io/e8jdy.

Covid-19: Vaccination reduces severity and duration of long covid, study finds

“…A systematic review of 16 observational studies from five countries also published in BMJ Medicine this week similarly concluded that covid-19 vaccines could both protect against and help to treat long covid 3…”

Corona With Lyme: A Long COVID Case Study

“…Concepts such as "radical rest" or "pacing" have entered the long COVID conversation as both a preventative and restorative concept to allow for ample healing and prevent symptom exacerbations, regardless of the presence of post-exertional malaise [6]. These techniques should be considered in conjunction with mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination administration, which is believed to be both preventative and therapeutic in the long COVID setting [7]. Thereafter lies utility in treating secondary illness that may have been exacerbated by SARS-CoV-2 infection or associated deconditioning and encouraging a variety of lifestyle changes to adapt to this otherwise chronic illness.…”

A methodological framework for assessing the benefit of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination following previous infection: case study of five to eleven year olds

“…Protection from vaccination alone is thought to be somewhere between 15%-50% [51]. A recent systematic review reported great uncertainty in the scale but likely definite benefit of vaccination in preventing Long Covid [52]. Assuming hybrid protection is better than vaccination alone, we choose a range of 30%-70% Overall effectiveness of previous infection 1 year earlier against new Long Covid on reinfection.…”