Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination on Symptoms from Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19: Results from the Nationwide VAXILONG Study

• Main Authors: Arnaud, L. (Author), Chatelus, E. (Author), Felten, R. (Author), Gottenberg, J.-E (Author), Pijnenburg, L. (Author), Scherlinger, M. (Author), Sibilia, J. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI 2022
• Subjects: ad26.cov2.s vaccine; adult; aged; ageusia; anosmia; arthralgia; Article; chill; clouding of consciousness; comirnaty; computer assisted tomography; contusion; coughing; diarrhea; disease severity; dyspnea; elasomeran; fatigue; female; fever; gastrointestinal symptom; headache; heart palpitation; human; human experiment; intensive care unit; long COVID; Long-COVID; male; mood change; multicenter study; myalgia; oxygen therapy; paresthesia; Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19; pruritus; questionnaire; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 vaccine; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; sleep disorder; vaccination; Vaccine; vaccine immunogenicity; vaxzevria; vomiting
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 Introduction: Few data are available concerning the effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on the persistent symptoms associated with COVID-19, also called long-COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Patients and methods: We conducted a nationwide online study among adult patients with PASC as defined by symptoms persisting over 4 weeks following a confirmed or probable COVID-19, without any identified alternative diagnosis. Information concerning PASC symptoms, vaccine type and scheme and its effect on PASC symptoms were studied. Results: 620 questionnaires were completed and 567 satisfied the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The respondents’ median age was 44 (IQR 25–75: 37–50) and 83.4% were women. The initial infection was proven in 365 patients (64%) and 5.1% had been hospitalized to receive oxygen. A total of 396 patients had received at least one injection of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine at the time of the survey, after a median of 357 (198–431) days following the initially-reported SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among the 380 patients who reported persistent symptoms at the time of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, 201 (52.8%) reported a global effect on symptoms following the injection, corresponding to an improvement in 21.8% and a worsening in 31%. There were no differences based on the type of vaccine used. After a complete vaccination scheme, 93.3% (28/30) of initially seronegative patients reported a positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. A total of 170 PASC patients had not been vaccinated. The most common reasons for postponing the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were fear of worsening PASC symptoms (55.9%) and the belief that vaccination was contraindicated because of PASC (15.6%). Conclusion: Our study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is well tolerated in the majority of PASC patients and has good immunogenicity. Disseminating these reassuring data might prove crucial to increasing vaccine coverage in patients with PASC. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.