A recent study published in JAMA Neurology found no association between vaccinations and increased severe multiple sclerosis (MS) flare-ups in almost 110,000 patients diagnosed with MS between 2007 and 2017. The investigators assessed 3 vaccines commonly administered in France (and also the US): the influenza vaccine, the pneumococcal vaccine, and a combination diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, pertussis, and Hemophilus influenzae (DTTPHi) vaccine used in France.
The analysis calculated the adjusted odds of hospitalization for an MS flare-up and prior vaccination within the prior 60 days.
The investigators concluded that there are no statistical associations between vaccine exposure and MS flares requiring hospitalization. Further study will need to be conducted on the Covid-19 vaccines as well as others such as RSV. The data is promising for the safety of vaccinating MS patients, a population at much higher risk of severe morbidity and even mortality from viral infections than the general public.
If you have received a vaccination and believe you may be experiencing a MS flare, the BeCare MS Link App can help you quantify your neurologic function and detect if you are experiencing a change.
Reference:
Grimaldi LPapeix CHamon Y, et al. Vaccines and the Risk of Hospitalization for Multiple Sclerosis Flare-Ups. JAMA Neurol. 2023;80(10):1098–1104. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2968