Experiences of persons with multiple sclerosis with the Covid-19 vaccination: A cross-sectional study of the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry.

Background: Despite strong recommendations for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination by multiple sclerosis (MS) organizations, some persons with MS (pwMS) remain vaccine hesitant. The Swiss MS Registry conducted a survey to explore Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, self-reported side effects and changes in MS symptoms following vaccination in adult pwMS.
Methods: Self-reported data were analyzed cross-sectionally. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore participant characteristics associated with Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy.
Results: Of 849 respondents, 73 (8.6%) were unvaccinated. Hesitation to vaccinate was most often a personal preference (N = 42, 57.53%). Factors negatively associated with vaccine hesitancy included older age (OR = 0.97 per year, 95% CI [0.94, 0.99]) and regularly seeing healthcare professionals (OR = 0.25, 95% CI [0.07, 0.85]). A history of confirmed Covid-19 infection (OR = 3.38, 95% CI [1.69, 6.77]) and being underweight (OR = 4.50, 95% CI [1.52, 13.36]) were positively associated with vaccine hesitancy. Of 768 participants who provided information, 320 (41.2%) and 351 (45.2%) reported vaccination side effects after the first and second vaccinations, respectively. Changes in MS symptoms were reported by 49 (6.3%) participants after the first and 67 (9.0%) participants after the second vaccination, and were most often described as increased or new-onset fatigue (N = 17/49 (34.7%) after the first and N = 21/67 (31.3%) after the second dose).
Conclusions: Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy was low among surveyed pwMS. The risk of vaccine hesitancy was higher among younger pwMS, those with a history of Covid-19 infection, and those without regular contact with healthcare professionals.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Mina Stanikić reports employment by Roche branch in Serbia, Roche d.o.o., from February 2019 to February 2020. Christian P Kamm has received honoraria for lectures as well as research support from Biogen, Novartis, Almirall, Teva, Merck, Sanofi Genzyme, Roche, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Celgene and the Swiss MS Society. Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (employer) received compensation for Chiara Zecca's speaking activities, consulting fees, or research grants from Almirall, Biogen Idec, Bristol Meyer Squibb, Lundbeck, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi, Teva Pharma, Roche. Chiara Zecca is recipient of a grant for senior researchers provided by AFRI (Area Formazione accademica, Ricerca e Innovazione), EOC. Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (employer) received compensation for Claudio Gobbi's speaking activities, consulting fees, or research grants from Almirall, Biogen Idec, Bristol Meyer Squibb, Lundbeck, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi, Teva Pharma, Roche. Anke Salmen has received speaker honoraria and/or travel compensation for activities with Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche and research support of Baasch Medicus Foundation and the Swiss MS society, not related to this work. Andrew Chan has served on advisory boards for, and received funding for travel or speaker honoraria from Actelion-Janssen, Almirall, Bayer, Biogen, Celgene, Sanofi-Genzyme, Merck, Novartis, Roche and Teva, all for hospital research funds; and research support from Biogen, Genzyme and UCB. Eric Twomey, Milo A. Puhan, Vladeta Ajdacic-Gross and Viktor von Wyl declare no competing interests.
(Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)