Is multiple sclerosis an autoimmune disease Covid?

Early on in the pandemic, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease, were thought to possibly be at higher-than-average risk for COVID-19 due to their condition. We sat down with Cedars-Sinai expert Dr. Nancy Sicotte, chair of the Department of Neurology, to learn more.

Can COVID-19 cause an autoimmune disease?

Widespread and long-term inflammation during severe COVID-19 may cause the immune system to produce antibodies to pieces of the virus it wouldn't normally recognize. Some of those pieces might resemble human proteins enough to trigger the production of autoantibodies.

Should you get the Covid vaccine if you have an autoimmune disease?

The American College of Rheumatology COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Guidance recommends that people with autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic disease (which includes lupus) get the vaccine unless they have an allergy to an ingredient in the vaccine.

Is it recommended to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you have MS?

Based on the high morbidity and unpredictable course of COVID-19, and the need to achieve herd immunity, vaccination has been recommended for patients with MS.

Which groups of people are at increased risks of severe illness from COVID-19?

Among adults, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. Severe illness means that the person with COVID-19 may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die. People of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are also at increased risk for severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Who is most at risk for the coronavirus disease?

Older adults are at highest risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. More than 81% of COVID-19 deaths occur in people over age 65. The number of deaths among people over age 65 is 97 times higher than the number of deaths among people ages 18-29 years.

Who is at greatest risk of infection from COVID-19?

Currently, those at greatest risk of infection are persons who have had prolonged, unprotected close contact (i.e., within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer) with a patient with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of whether the patient has symptoms.

Who is at higher risk of getting blood clots from the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine?

They are also more likely to occur in women who are pregnant or on oral contraceptives, or in people who have hereditary disorders that predispose them to blood clotting. As mentioned above, the clotting condition associated with the J&J vaccine is called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS).

Are you at risk of experiencing an autoimmune disease flare-up from COVID-19 vaccine?

There is a risk that flare-ups may occur. That being said, it has been observed that people living with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions are at higher risk of experiencing severe symptoms from a COVID-19 infection.

What are the medical contraindications for the COVID-19 vaccine?

Medical contraindications to COVID-19 vaccination include immediate or severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or component of a COVID-19 vaccine or known allergy to a component of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Does having an autoimmune disease make you more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19?

There are instances in which having an autoimmune disease increases vulnerability to COVID-19 complications, and other cases in which having a coronavirus infection may trigger autoimmune or other serious conditions.

What are some exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine?

Some people may be at risk for an adverse reaction because of an allergy to one of the vaccine components or a medical condition. This is referred to as a medical exemption. Some people may decline vaccination because of a sincerely held religious belief. This is referred to as a religious exemption.

Is there a COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised patients?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with a number of professional societies, endorse SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for the immunocompromised population. Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines also recommend a third dose of an mRNA vaccine for severely immunocompromised patients.

Are long term side effects possible with the COVID-19 vaccine?

Benefits of Vaccination Outweigh the Risks Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unusual following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination.

What are some potential lingering symptoms after COVID-19?

For people who have had COVID-19, lingering COVID-19 heart problems can complicate their recovery. Some of the symptoms common in coronavirus “long-haulers,” such as palpitations, dizziness, chest pain and shortness of breath, may be due to heart problems — or, just from having been ill with COVID-19.

What other illnesses are caused by coronaviruses?

Coronavirus is a family of viruses that can cause respiratory illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine if i have lupus?

Are the vaccines safe and effective for people with lupus? It is unlikely that many people with lupus were included in the clinical trials for the vaccines. There is no evidence, however, that people with lupus should not receive the vaccine.

Can the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine cause allergic reactions?

There is a remote chance that the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine could cause a severe allergic
reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after
getting a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. For this reason, your vaccination provider
may ask you to stay at the place where you received your vaccine for monitoring after
vaccination. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include:
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of your face and throat
• A fast heartbeat
• A bad rash all over your body
• Dizziness and weakness

What are the common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?

The most commonly reported side effects were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever.

Can Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine cause blood clots?

The FDA updated the J&J Janssen vaccine EUA with an additional warning, noting that “women under 50 should be made aware of a rare risk of blood clots and low platelets following vaccination,” said Dr. Fryhofer. “They also need to know there are other COVID vaccines out there that don’t pose this small risk.

Should I be concerned about having the J&J COVID-19 vaccine?

The FDA also attached a warning to the J&J vaccine in July, after reports linked the vaccine to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. For both warnings, the agency said the incidence was very rare, and the benefits of the vaccine still outweighed the risks.

Is it safe to take the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine?

For many people, the benefits of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine outweigh the risks. It's effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, and it's the only single-dose option available. However, you'll still need to get a booster shot 2 months later.

What groups of people may experience stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Some groups of people who may experience stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic include:

• Certain racial and ethnic minority groups, including Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and black or African Americans;
• People who tested positive for COVID-19, have recovered from being sick with COVID-19, or were released from COVID-19 quarantine;
• Emergency responders or healthcare providers;
• Other frontline workers, such as grocery store clerks, delivery drivers, or farm and food processing plant workers;
• People who have disabilities or developmental or behavioral disorders who may have difficulty following recommendations;
• People who have underlying health conditions that cause a cough;
• People living in congregate (group) settings, such as people experiencing homelessness.

Are obese adults at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19?

• Having obesity increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. People who are overweight may also be at increased risk.
• Having obesity may triple the risk of hospitalization due to a COVID-19 infection.

Are people of a particular age vulnerable to coronavirus disease?

People of all ages can be infected by the COVID-19 virus.
Older people and younger people can be infected by the COVID-19 virus. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.