Single-center experience of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease: Real-life data

Background/Aim: Patients with rheumatic disease are at high risk of infection complications, and vaccines essential to prevent these diseases. Moreover, biologic disease-modifying/targeted synthetic anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) have been shown reduce the immunogenicity vaccines, although their effectiveness, side effects, effects on activity not yet clear. In this study, we aimed investigate incidence post-vaccine exacerbation, COVID-19 despite vaccination in patients inflammatory disease; difference between who received did receive b/tsDMARD treatments. Methods: (i.e., group (BG)) (n = 194) were admitted rheumatology outpatient clinic, included study. All rheumatological disease, 185), but applied clinic during time, non-biologic (NG). followed evaluated cross-sectionally. Clinical demographic characteristics, as well type vaccination, status before after also evaluated. Results: BG, 92.2% vaccinated, for NG, 82.7% vaccinated against 46.2% CoronaVac vaccine alone, 51.4% Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 37.4% a combination vaccines. 53.8% 48.6% 36.2% There was significant groups, according types (P 0.040), due larger number + BG. Adverse detected 99 (55.9%) BG 95 (62.5%) NG post-vaccination. no (CoronaVac, BNT162b2, or combination) adverse > 0.05 all). The most common events both NG. effect arm pain, significantly higher 0.014). Fever rash more 0.017). Disease exacerbation observed whereas it 5 (1%) that different 0.021). SARS-COV-2 less vs. (15.3% 20.3%) Despite vaccinations, 56 62 had 0.005). Conclusion: Standardized comparisons could be achieved, using fewer infections. Additionally, well-tolerated vaccine-related 1%, only seen those b/tsDMARDs.