April 20, 2021
(WHDH) – The development of shingles is a side effect that may be associated with the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a new study.
Researchers recently identified herpes zoster – also known as shingles – as a possible side effect after six people with autoimmune inflammatory diseases received the Pfizer vaccine, according to findings published in the British Society of Rheumatology.
Herpes zoster has been developed in patients with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome, researchers said.
According to the study, five patients developed the infection after their first dose of vaccine, while one patient developed it after their second dose. The other five patients completed the second vaccine dose with no other side effects.
In most cases, the infection was mild, researchers noted.
Immunosuppressed individuals were not included in the initial clinical studies of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Researchers noted that additional epidemiological studies on the safety of the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases are needed to elucidate the association with herpes zoster reactivation.
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