Covid-19 vaccine and MS: Your questions answered

Pixabay via Pexels.com
There's been a lot of interest around the new Covid-19 vaccines and how they might affect people with MS. We've collected some common questions and answers from the MS Trust Enquiry Service this week to share with you.
These answers have been checked against the information from the NHS on the Covid-19 vaccines, the British Medical Association, and against a statement from the MS Society Medical Experts panel. With events moving so quickly, we want to make sure that we are presenting consistent information.
There are three Covid-19 vaccines in discussion for use in the UK at the moment, and others in development. Three have been authorised for use in the UK so far, created by Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford University/AstraZeneca and Moderna.
A vaccination programme using the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine began in all four UK nations on 8 December. The roll-out of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine began through GP surgeries on 7 January.
If you have any further questions about the Covid-19 vaccines for people with MS, you can contact our Enquiry Service on ask@mstrust.org.uk and a member of our team will reply during office hours.
How were the Covid-19 vaccines created so quickly? Are they safe?
Bringing a vaccine or medical drug from start to finish normally takes years. Drug companies need to complete extensive clinical trials to ensure that their drug or vaccine is safe to use in a wider variety of people, and that it is effective at controlling the disease for which it is designed. The independent Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) evaluates the data from the trials to come to a conclusion.
The Covid-19 vaccines have taken less than one year to come to the point where they are being given to the public. However, the researchers have taken all the same steps as normal. They have saved time in a number of ways:
- Researchers did not have to wait for funding to be allocated before starting each phase of the clinical trial. Governments and commercial organisations prioritised the Covid-19 vaccine studies, and made money and resources available immediately.
- Clinical trials move through several distinct phases. To speed up the process, the Covid-19 vaccine trial phases ran concurrently, instead of one after another.
- Processes for creating vaccines for new diseases had already been developed. As soon as researchers had access to the genetic code of the new coronavirus, they could begin these processes. Successful vaccines have been developed in this way for other diseases, and the Covid-19 vaccine did not have to be created 'from scratch'.
What are the possible side effects of having a Covid-19 vaccine?
Common side effects from all three licenced vaccine are soreness at the injection site, a headache, feeling tired or achey. You can take painkillers such as paracetamol if you need to.
The full list of side effects can be read on the patient information leaflet for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the patient information leaflet for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and the patient information leaflet for the Moderna vaccine.
Were the Covid-19 vaccines tested on people with MS?
All three licenced vaccines were tested in clinical trials where there were people with stable long-term disease in both the active and placebo groups. We do not know whether any people with MS were in those groups.
Does the Covid-19 vaccine contain egg or animal products?
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine does not contain egg or animal products.
The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine does not contain egg. It was created using human kidney cells.
The Moderna vaccine does not contain egg or animal products.
Which priority category am I in?
Age is thought to be a more significant risk factor for severe disease with Covid-19 than underlying health issues. This is reflected in the priority categories.
As we understand it, priority category 4 includes people of any age who are clinically extremely vulnerable. People with MS do not automatically fall into this category, but some people with MS, with other health conditions and on some medications (including some disease modifying drugs and steroids) may be called at this stage. If you were advised by your consultant to shield throughout the year, you may be called at this time.
Otherwise, we expect that people with MS will be vaccinated with their age group, or in priority category 6, whichever is first. Priority category 6 includes people with underlying health conditions, and is largely the same group of people who are eligible for a free annual flu vaccine.
There may be local interpretations of the priorities, based on practical logistics. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine needs to be kept extremely cold, and used quickly once defrosted. To avoid wasting doses, health and care workers or people at a lower priority may get vaccinated earlier than expected in some places.
You can read more about your risk of infection and serious disease in our A-Z of coronavirus and covid-19 webpage.
Will my partner/carer get vaccinated at the same time as me?
In general, people who are not clinically extremely vulnerable and have no underlying health conditions will be vaccinated at the same time as other people the same age. The government guidance does allow for flexibility in order to reach people effectively and avoid wastage, but you are more likely to find that your partner/carer is vaccinated at the appropriate time for them, and not at the same time as you.
The exception is if you are an unpaid carer for a clinically extremely vulnerable person. Guidance was amended on 5 January to allow for the vaccination of people who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare would be at risk if the carer fell ill.
In practice, this means that unpaid carers would be added to the priority category 6.
Can people with MS have the vaccines?
People with MS are advised to have vaccines where they are offered. The evidence suggests that having a vaccine will not make your MS symptoms worse, and will not trigger an MS relapse.
You may have been told to avoid live vaccines if you are taking a drug that strongly affects your immune system. None of the first three Covid-19 vaccines (Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Moderna) are live vaccines, and they cannot cause the disease.
So, even if you are taking a drug which suppresses your immune system, such as mitoxantrone, azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide or steroids, you can take one of these Covid-19 vaccines if it is offered.
Can I have the vaccine if I am taking a disease modifying drug?
Disease modifying drugs (DMDs) can affect the immune system. This does not affect the safety of the vaccine, but in some cases your DMD may affect whether the vaccine will stimulate enough of a response to protect you from Covid-19.
There is no concern for people taking a beta interferon (Rebif, Avonex, Plegridy, Betaferon or Extavia), glatiramer acetate (Copaxone and Brabio), teriflunomide (Aubagio), dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera), and natalizumab (Tysabri).
If you are taking ocrelizumab (Ocrevus), fingolimod (Gilenya), alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) or cladribine (Mavenclad) your immune system may not make as strong a response to the vaccine. The MS Society Medical Advisors have recommended that if you are already taking Ocrevus or Gilenya, you should be aware of this, but not alter your treatment plan.
If you are taking Lemtrada or Mavenclad, the recommendation is to wait 3 months after your last course or infusion. If you need a second course of Mavenclad or Lemtrada, it is safe to delay it until after your vaccination.
I haven't started a DMD yet. Should I have my vaccine first?
Talk to your MS team about the best strategy for you. If you are planning to take Ocrevus, Gilenya, Lemtrada or Mavenclad you may be advised to be vaccinated before starting your DMD.
I had a stem cell transplant last year. Should I have the vaccine?
It takes some months for your immune system to recover from haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). If you have the vaccine too soon after transplantation, you may not make enough antibodies to protect you from Covid-19. The MS Society Medical Advisors recommend that you should wait at least six months after treatment before getting vaccinated.
I just had a flu jab. Can I have the Covid-19 vaccine now?
You should leave seven days between getting your flu vaccine and your Covid-19 vaccine.
Why do I still need to wear a mask and practise social distancing once I've had the vaccine?
The current vaccines all require two doses and it takes time for your body to build up a strong immune response. For the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, you need to have a second dose 21 days after your first dose, and then wait a further 7 days until you are protected.
No vaccine gives 100% protection from illness, so you should still take care to avoid infection, particularly if you are clinically extremely vulnerable. Researchers are not yet sure whether people who have been vaccinated are still able to carry and transmit Covid-19, even if they are themselves protected. To protect others, you should adhere to the guidelines for your area.
Find out more
- Vaccinating the UK: how the covid vaccine was approved, and other questions answered British Medical Journal article
- Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination NHS information
- Information for UK recipients on Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine UK Government page giving patient information
- Regulatory approval of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine UK Government page explaining how the vaccine was approved
- Our A-Z on coronavirus and Covid-19 Read updated information
- Covid-19 vaccines: what they mean for people with MS A filmed interview with Professor Alasdair Coles


Researchers develop mRNA vaccine to treat MS-like condition in mice
14 Jan 2021 - 00:00
A potential treatment for multiple sclerosis uses mRNA technology, similar to two of the Covid-19 vaccines. Find out more about this research.


Daytime sleepiness and driving in MS
6 Jan 2021 - 00:00
In this study, researchers compared daytime sleepiness while driving in people with and without MS.


Remyelination research: what it means for people with MS
22 Dec 2020 - 00:00
Most people with MS will have heard of demyelination but perhaps not remyelination. We spoke with Dr Nick Cunniffe, who has been involved in some of the recent remyelination research, to find out more.

Sign up to our emails
Get the latest news and research sent straight to your inbox. Find out first about the latest developments in MS treatments, plus updates on the work of the MS Trust.