Recombinant Zoster Vaccine Effectively Protects Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study

Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Published On 2025-03-24 02:45 GMT | Update On 2025-03-24 07:39 GMT

Researchers have determined in a new study that the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) offers good protection from herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) among adults 50 years and older with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, scientists did not determine an increased risk of RA flare after vaccination. This study was conducted by Emily R. and fellow researchers was published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases journal.

This retrospective cohort study examined RZV's effectiveness and safety through Kaiser Permanente Southern California data to shed light on vaccine protection for this high-risk group. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was measured in the study through a retrospective matched cohort analysis.

Adults 50 years and older with RA who were administered two doses of RZV (at least four weeks apart) were matched with unvaccinated controls in a 1:3 ratio. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and VE against HZ and PHN were estimated through Cox proportional hazards regression. Safety was assessed by self-controlled case series analysis, determining the risk of RA flares within 30 days of vaccination with conditional Poisson regression.

Results

1926 vaccinated and 5746 unvaccinated adults with RA were included in the study. The findings are as follows:

• The adjusted VE of two doses of RZV against HZ was 60.7% (95% CI, 41.0%-73.8%).

• In subgroup analysis among participants who had doses 4 weeks to 6 months apart, VE for HZ was 57.9% (95% CI, 34.4%-73.0%).

• Two doses of RZV VE for PHN was 88.7% (95% CI, 12.1%-98.5%).

• No heightened risk of RA flares within 30 days post vaccination was found in 2606 adults with RA who received ≥1 RZV dose (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.75-1.37).

The study authors concluded that two doses of RZV provided robust protection against HZ and PHN in RA patients aged >50 years and no flare-up of RA 30 days following vaccination. This indicates the efficacy and safety of RZV in immunocompromised populations and supports the administration of RZV in RA patients for prevention of complications from HZ.

Reference:

Rayens, E., Sy, L. S., Qian, L., Wu, J., Ackerson, B. K., Luo, Y., Cheng, Y., Lin, A. T., Solano, Z., De Jesus, J., Amundsen, B., Florea, A., Ku, J. H., Chmielewski-Yee, E., Oraichi, D., Seifert, H., Yun, H., & Tseng, H. F. (2025). Effectiveness and safety of the recombinant zoster vaccine in individuals ≥50 years of age with rheumatoid arthritis: a matched cohort and self-controlled case series study. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ard.2025.01.045https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ard.2025.01.045

Article Source : Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.

NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.

Dr Riya Dave

Dr Riya Dave has completed dentistry from Gujarat University in 2022. She is a dentist and accomplished medical and scientific writer known for her commitment to bridging the gap between clinical expertise and accessible healthcare information. She has been actively involved in writing blogs related to health and wellness.

Comments Policy

Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Recombinant Zoster Vaccine Effectively Protects Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study

Similar News

Enzyme-Loaded Magnetic Robots Offer Promising Noninvasive Solution for Kidney Stone Treatment: Study Shows

Low-Dose Aspirin Linked to Reduced Breast Cancer Recurrence, But Not Lower Mortality: Study Finds

Air pollution linked to adverse birth outcomes, reveals Indian study

Medical Bulletin 25/July/2025

Once-Weekly Semaglutide-Insulin Combo Matches Daily Basal-Bolus in Type 2 Diabetes Control: Study

Tirzepatide reduces food intake and appetite, and affects brain functioning, more than placebo and liraglutide: Study

Vitamin D Supplementation Shows Potential Benefit in MAFLD Management: Study

Smoking Significantly Increases Psoriasis Relapse Risk, reveals research