COVID‐19 vaccination hesitancy in patients with autoimmune diseases: A mystery that needs an immediate solution

• Published in: Journal of Medical Virology Vol. 93; no. 9; pp. 5216 - 5218
• Main Authors: Ali, Zahid, Sarwar, Musharraf, Ansar, Sheraz, Awan, Usman Ayub, Ahmed, Haroon, Aftab, Nauman, Afzal, Muhammad Sohail
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.09.2021; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Autoimmune diseases; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Letter to the Editor; Letters to the Editor; Vaccination; Virology
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27014

The broader spectrum of interactions between autoimmune disorders and SARS‐CoV‐2 is uncertain; additionally, the mechanism underlying this relationship is still poorly understood. According to the EULAR COVID‐19 database, approximately 3590 patients with rheumatic diseases were infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 until December 1st, 2020, escalating rapidly. The onset of multiple co‐morbidities and persistent immuno‐suppressive treatments is exceptional in these patients. In the last few decades, biological and modern synthetic drugs have boosted the therapeutic approach and dramatically enhance disease outcomes. However, the response to certain immunosuppression vaccines, which may result in immunogenicity and B cell depletion therapies, has become unpredictable. A recent survey was conducted about vaccine hesitancy on 2887 patients who had different autoimmune disorders, as shown in Fig. 2. Curiously, people with inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis were 54.2 percent eager to get vaccinated, although 13.6 percent were reluctant to get vaccinated against SARS‐CoV‐2. In autoimmune disease patients, the major reasons for vaccine reluctance are fears regarding adverse effects and the worsening of the underlying autoimmune disease, as reported by other studies. To reduce the catastrophic effect of COVID‐19 in autoimmune patients, their treatment and management should be prioritized, and SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination is considered one of the most effective solutions. Conversely, their safety and effectiveness should first be analyzed, and large‐scale studies are carried out considering emerging data. Furthermore, physicians should also strongly advise their patients underlying any autoimmune disorder to endure SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines, as this can substantially help to minimize associated morbidity and death in COVID‐19.