ǂa ǂposition paper
Martin Rakuša (Author), Serefnur Öztürk (Author), Elena Moro (Author), Raimund Helbok (Author), Claudio Bassetti (Author), Ettore Beghi (Author), Daniel Bereczki (Author), Benedetta Bodini (Author), Giovanni Di Liberto (Author), Tom Jenkins (Author)

Abstract

Background and purpose Health risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection are undisputed. Moreover, the capability of vaccination to prevent symptomatic, severe, and fatal COVID-19 is recognized. There is also early evidence that vaccination can reduce the chance for long COVID-19. Nonetheless, the willingness to get vaccinated and receive booster shots remains subpar among people with neurologic disorders. Vaccine scepticism not only jeopardizes collective efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic but puts individual lives at risk, as some chronic neurologic diseases are associated with a higher risk for an unfavorable COVID-19 course. Methods In this position paper, the NeuroCOVID-19 Task Force of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) summarizes the current knowledge on the prognosis of COVID-19 among patients with neurologic disease, elucidates potential barriers to vaccination coverage, and formulates strategies to overcome vaccination hesitancy. A survey among the Task Force members on the phenomenon of vaccination hesitancy among people with neurologic disease supports the lines of argumentation. Results The study revealed that people with multiple sclerosis and other nervous system autoimmune disorders are most skeptical of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The prevailing concerns included the chance of worsening the pre-existing neurological condition, vaccination-related adverse events, and drug interaction. Conclusions The EAN NeuroCOVID-19 Task Force reinforces the key role of neurologists as advocates of COVID-19 vaccination. Neurologists need to argue in the interest of their patients about the overwhelming individual and global benefits of COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, they need to keep on eye on this vulnerable patient group, its concerns, and the emergence of potential safety signals.

Keywords

advocacy;infectious disease prevention;neurological disorders;vaccine skepticism;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UM - University of Maribor
Publisher: Blackwell Science
UDC: 616.8
COBISS: 108168963 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1468-1331
Views: 25
Downloads: 0
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Other data

Secondary language: Slovenian
Secondary keywords: COVID-19;Communicable diseases;Nervous system diseases;SARS-CoV-2;Vaccination;
Type (COBISS): Scientific work
Pages: str. 2163-2172
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ29
Issue: ǂissue ǂ8
Chronology: Aug. 2022
DOI: 10.1111/ene.15368
ID: 24399291