AdverseReaction

Herpes infection possibly linked to
COVID-19 vaccine, study says
By Jackie Salo
April 20, 2021 I 9:29am I Updated
Herpes infections may be a side effect of a COVID-19 vaccine,
experts have revealed.
Scientists in Israel identified six cases in a new study of patients
developing a skin rash known as herpes zoster — or shingles — after
receiving the Pfizer vaccine, according to a study in the
Rheumatology journal.
Herpes zoster starts off as a small, itchy skin rash, but if left
untreated, it could cause nerve damage and pain, the Jerusalem
Post reported.
Out of 491 patients, six people or 1.2 percent experienced the
infection, researchers said.
Rheumatology %.•B&SSV0'
Herpes zoster following BNTi62b2 mRNA
Covid-19 vaccination in patients with
autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic
diseases: a case series ®
Published: 12 April 2021
The prevalence of HZ was 1.2% (n = 6) in patients with AIIRD
compared with none in controls. Six female patients aged 49 ±
11 years with stable AIIRD: rheumatoid arthritis (n = 4),
Sjogren’s syndrome (n = 1), and undifferentiated connective
disease (n = 1), developed the first in a lifetime event of HZ
within a short time after the first vaccine dose in 5 cases and
after the second vaccine dose in one case. In the majority of
cases, HZ infection was mild, except a case of HZ ophthalmicus,
without corneal involvement, in RA patient treated with
tofacitinib. There were no cases of disseminated HZ disease or
postherpetic neuralgia. All but one patient received antiviral
treatment with a resolution of HZ-related symptoms up to 6
weeks. Five patients completed the second vaccine dose without
other adverse effects.
Conclusion
Epidemiologic studies on the safety of the mRNA-based
COVID-19 vaccines in patients with AIIRD are needed to clarify
the association between the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination and
reactivation of zoster.
IvEDPAGE TODAY*
New Side Effect From mRNA CO VID
Vaccines?
— Surprise finding in Israeli case series
by Nancy Walsh, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today
April 15, 2021
________
At two centers in Israel, there have been six cases of
herpes zoster developing shortly after administration
of the Pfizer vaccine in patients with disorders such as
rheumatoid arthritis since December 2020, according
to Victoria Furer, MD, of Tel Aviv University, and
colleagues.
Little has been known about the safety and efficacy
of the COVID-19 vaccines among patients with
rheumatic diseases, because immunosuppressed
individuals were not included in the initial clinical
trials, they explained.