Experts address osteoporosis therapy and COVID-19 vaccination

(HealthDay)—In new joint guidelines issued by bone health experts, recommendations are presented for managing osteoporosis therapy in the context of COVID-19 vaccination.

The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR), American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, Endocrine Society, European Calcified Tissue Society, International Osteoporosis Foundation, and National Osteoporosis Foundation developed guidance to assist clinicians in the management of patients with osteoporosis who will receive COVID-19 vaccination, focusing on medication-specific recommendations.

According to the guidance, osteoporosis does not seem to increase the risk for infection with, or complications from, COVID-19. General bone health measures should not be interrupted at the time of vaccination or thereafter. With respect to specific medications in relation to COVID-19 vaccination, oral bisphosphonates should be continued without interruption or delay. A one-week interval is recommended between intravenous bisphosphonate infusion and COVID-19 vaccination to distinguish between acute phase reactions in the event that they occur. A four- to seven-day interval is recommended between treatment with denosumab and COVID-19 vaccination to allow for the potential occurrence of injection site reactions; alternatively, denosumab treatment could be administered concomitantly in the contralateral arm or another injection site, such as the abdomen or the upper thigh. Teriparatide and abaloparatide should be continued in patients receiving COVID-19 vaccination. An interval of four to seven days is recommended between injections of romosozumab and COVID-19 vaccination, or injection of romosozumab in an alternative site should be considered if the injections are administered concomitantly. Raloxifene should be continued in patients receiving COVID-19 vaccination.

"These recommendations and the supporting evidence were curated by the world's top bone health experts to make it easier for health care professionals and their patients to understand the best approach for adjusting osteoporosis regimens while getting vaccinated," ASBMR President Suzanne Jan De Beur, M.D., said in a statement.