If the patient expresses hesitancy to be vaccinated owing to their underlying condition, it is important to discuss that, while adverse events are possible, COVID-19 vaccination is not associated with increased rheumatic disease flares, regardless of prior COVID, rheumatic disease type, and whether mRNA or DNA vaccination technology was used.
Further, in a study which collected data on discontinuing disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs around the time of vaccination, patient-reported adverse events after vaccination were similar to those seen in the general population, and there was a relatively low frequency of disease flare requiring medication.
Ultimately, the benefit of COVID vaccination is thought to outweigh risk in patients with an immunocompromised status. Clinicians should maintain awareness of changing guidelines regarding benefits and risks for vaccination.
Editor's Note: Skill Checkups are wholly fictional or fictionalized clinical scenarios intended to provide evidence-based educational takeaways.
The information in this quiz is current as of November 7, 2022. For the most recent COVID information, see https://www.medscape.com/resource/coronavirus
Follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube
Editor's Recommendations
Medscape © 2022 WebMD, LLC
Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Enrico Brunetti. Skill Checkup: A 68-Year-Old Woman With Low-Grade Fever, Headache, Body Aches, Fatigue, Nasal Congestion, and Sore Throat - Medscape - Nov 07, 2022.
Comments