Abstract
Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system, and their immunogenicity is key in achieving protection against specific pathogens. Questions have been raised whether in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients they could induce disease exacerbation and whether vaccines could possibly act as a trigger in the onset of MS in susceptible populations. So far, no correlation has been found between the vaccinations against influenza, hepatitis B, tetanus, human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella zoster, tuberculosis, yellow fever, or typhoid fever and the risk of MS. Further research is needed for the potential protective implications of the tetanus and Bacillus Calmette–Guerin vaccines in MS patients. Nowadays with the emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and recent vaccinations approval and arrival, the risk-benefit in MS patients with regards to safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in those treated with immunosuppressive therapies is of paramount importance. In this manuscript, we demonstrate how different vaccine types could be related to the immunopathogenesis of MS and discuss the risks and benefits of different vaccinations in MS patients.
Highlights
Published: 8 April 2021World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between the years 2010 and 2015 more than 10 million deaths were prevented owing to vaccinations carried out around the world, making vaccines one of the most important triumph stories of modern age medicine [1]
Since vaccinations work on activating the immune system, it has been hypothesized that a stimulus of the immune system may trigger an autoimmune disease or its exacerbation [2]
The aim of this review is to demonstrate how different vaccine types could be related to the immunopathogenesis of Multiple sclerosis (MS) and to discuss the risks and benefits of different vaccinations in MS patients
Summary
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between the years 2010 and 2015 more than 10 million deaths were prevented owing to vaccinations carried out around the world, making vaccines one of the most important triumph stories of modern age medicine [1]. While generally considered safe in people with healthy immune systems, a special consideration needs to be taken when it comes to patients with altered immune status, namely with autoimmune diseases or under immunosuppression. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Both autoimmunity and immune therapies are potentially problematic with regards to vaccinating MS patients. Many patients with MS and their physicians face an ongoing dilemma on whether or not to vaccinate This should be especially important nowadays, when we are facing a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 approaching. The aim of this review is to demonstrate how different vaccine types could be related to the immunopathogenesis of MS and to discuss the risks and benefits of different vaccinations in MS patients
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