A study has found that, for most people with MS, receiving a Covid-19 vaccination does not increase your risk of having a relapse.
Researchers identified 124,545 people with MS using a French healthcare database. Of these, 102,524 (82%) had received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. The study assessed whether there was any increased risk of a relapse after the first, second and booster doses of the vaccine. The researchers used the healthcare database to see whether any of the people included in the study had been treated for a relapse (either with a hospital admission or steroid treatment) within 45 days of being vaccinated.
Reassuringly, the researchers found that the first and second vaccine doses did not increase the risk of relapse. However, they did see a small increase in risk after the booster dose for a small group of people with high levels of MS activity (inflammation). Specifically, those who’d had two or more relapses in the previous two years and who weren’t taking a disease modifying drug (DMD).
The researchers also assessed whether different types of Covid-19 vaccine may affect relapse risk. The study included people who’d received the following vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen and AstraZeneca. The study found there was no increase in relapse risk for any of these vaccines.
These results are very reassuring for the many people with MS who will benefit from Covid-19 vaccination and the protection it brings.
As we head into autumn, some people with MS who are at higher risk of serious infection with Covid-19 may be contacted to book their booster dose. Read more about who’s eligible for seasonal Covid-19 vaccinations.
Reference
Moisset X, et al.
Risk of Relapse After COVID-19 Vaccination Among Patients With Multiple Sclerosis in France: A Self-Controlled Case Series.
Neurology 2024;103(5):e209662.
Abstract
