Vaccination Setting of Patients with Autoimmune Diseases in Times of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2 Pandemic Using the Example of Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Longitudinal Multicenter Study

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection represents a serious health risk, especially in chronically ill people. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic immune-mediated neurological disease. Vaccinations play an important role in the therapeutic MS management. This study aimed at determining MS patients’ attitudes toward vaccinations and governmental measures before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, including associations with sociodemographic and clinical variables. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In a longitudinal, multicenter study, 200 MS patients were investigated regarding their vaccination attitudes before and after the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Data on vaccination status and burden (physical, psychological, and social) experienced as caused by the pandemic and related governmental safety measures were registered. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Patients with progressive MS felt significantly more pandemic-burdened than patients with relapsing-onset MS (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Older patients were more frequently willing to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 than younger patients (<i>p</i> < 0.001). After the first pandemic wave, patients with pre-pandemic willingness to comply with vaccination recommendations were more likely to accept recommended standard vaccinations (60% vs. 36%) and a possible SARS-CoV-2 vaccination than pre-pandemic nonwilling patients (66.7% vs. 42.0%). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The vaccination topic was not immediately present in many patients before the pandemic. MS patients need comprehensive and understandable education meeting their concerns using evidence-based and convincing arguments on the subject of vaccination, particularly younger patients. Older patients are already more often willing to become vaccinated. Complete vaccination status is necessary to avoid multiple infections.

Vaccination willingness in association with personality traits in patients with multiple sclerosis in the course of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

“…No vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 was available at this time. This 1st follow-up showed a major acceptance of a vaccination against SARS-CoV-2: 60.5% of the patients were willing to get a vaccine, 17.0% were undecided, and 22.5% were against it 34 . Although the majority of MS-patients analysed in the present study showed willingness to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 at both follow-ups (1st: 60%, 2nd: 61%), a substantial proportion had concerns and were undecided or opposed to vaccination.…”

“…In summary, our present study suggested that about two thirds of German MS-patients analysed were willing to receive a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Important variables associated with vaccination willingness, reported in a previous study 34 were socio-demographic variables such as higher age and personality characteristics such as Novelty Seeking as well as Extraversion. Changes to pro-vaccination attitudes during the follow-ups were seen in individuals with higher scores in Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness.…”

“…Four hundred and four individuals aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or MS according to the revised McDonald criteria 33 have been included in a cross-sectional multi-centre study on polypharmacy and vaccination status after signing an informed consent starting in June 2019. Detailed description of the sample is incuded in the study by Heidler et al 34 . The consecutive convenient sample was recruited at the department of neurology of Rostock’s University Medical Centre and at the neurological department of the Ecumenical Hainich Hospital in Mühlhausen/Thuringia (Germany).…”

Vaccination Coverage against Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Poliomyelitis and Validity of Self-Reported Vaccination Status in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…Overall, the advantages of vaccinations outweigh the potential risks and before starting DMD therapy, completion of vaccination status is recommended in MS patients [ 30 ]. In addition to this special priority of vaccinations for MS patients, we live in a time in which vaccination hesitancy plays an increasingly important role in society [ 31 , 32 ].…”

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis in Germany and the United Kingdom: Gender-specific results from a longitudinal observational study

“… 1 The willingness of PwMS to get vaccinated is about 70% according to different surveys. 9 , 10 The main concerns of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination hesitants included the possible adverse long-term effects of the vaccine, safety aspects, insufficient information and concerns due to accelerated approval procedures. 9 , 11 Further concerns are the fear of MS worsening, especially the occurrence of MS relapses following vaccination and adverse events, such as (life-threatening) thromboembolic events associated with vector-based vaccines, which led to a short-term or permanent suspension of the vaccine in several countries.…”