Risk for adverse events not increased after COVID-19 vaccine in IBD

(HealthDay)—Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) do not have an increased risk for adverse events (AEs) after the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, according to a study published online May 25 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Gregory J. Botwin, from the Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and colleagues examined post-mRNA COVID-19 vaccination AEs in a cohort of 246 adults with IBD participating in a longitudinal vaccine registry. Participants had completed an AE assessment following at least one mRNA vaccine dose (141 and 105, respectively, received BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273, manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna).

The researchers found that the overall frequency of AEs was 39 and 62 percent after dose 1 and dose 2, respectively, with the most common systemic AEs being fatigue/malaise (23 and 45 percent after dose 1 and 2, respectively), headache/dizziness (14 and 34 percent, respectively), and fever/chills (5 and 29 percent, respectively); these frequencies were similar to those reported in the general population. Most AEs were nonsevere and resolved in less than two days. The frequency of AEs was higher for those younger than 50 years relative to older individuals and for those with prior COVID-19 history. Individuals receiving biologic therapy were less likely to report AEs.

"We believe that our results will be applicable to patients with other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases as these drugs are widely used in dermatology, neurology, rheumatology, and other disciplines," a coauthor said in a statement.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer.

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