PGIMER doctors say immune suppressive medications may impact Covid-19 vaccination

Further studies are required to assess the need for booster diseases in improving the efficacy of vaccination in this subgroup of patients.

Rheumatologist Aman Sharma said the care of patients with autoimmune disorders has been challenging during the pandemic and the issues of vaccine efficacy have been a major concern amongst rheumatologists globally.

There has been some evidence of early fall in antibodies in such patients after vaccination, which is concerning.

Vishal Sharma, the senior author, said while some drugs do not seem to impact response to double dose of vaccines like infliximab, adalimumab, 5-aminosalicylates and vedolizumab.

However, certain drugs like rituximab, steroids and immunomodulators reduced the immune responses to the vaccination even after the double dose. Such patients should continue Covid appropriate behaviour, including physical distancing and use of masks, even after complete vaccination.

The systematic review has been published in Autoimmunity Reviews, a high impact Elsevier journal.

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