20 April 2021
(WHDH) – The development of shingles is one side effect that could be linked to the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a new study.
Researchers have 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 develops in patients with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’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 dose of vaccine without any other adverse effects.
In most cases, the infection was mild, researchers said.
Immunosuppressed individuals were not included in the initial clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccine.
Researchers have noted that additional epidemiological studies on the safety of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases are needed to clarify the association with herpes zoster reactivation.
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