Rakusa, Martin, Ozturk, Serefnur, Moro, Elena, Helbok, Raimund, Bassetti, Claudio L, Beghi, Ettore, Bereczki, Daniel, Bodini, Benedetta, Di Liberto, Giovanni, Jenkins, Thomas M et al (show 14 more authors)
(2022)
COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among people with chronic neurological disorders: A position paper.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, 29 (8).
pp. 2163-2172.
Abstract
<h4>Background and purpose</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>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.<h4>Results</h4>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.<h4>Conclusions</h4>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.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | advocacy, COVID-19, infectious disease prevention, neurological disorders, SARS-CoV-2, vaccination, vaccine skepticism |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Clinical Directorate |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 23 May 2022 14:56 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Jan 2023 21:01 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/ene.15368 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.15368 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3155236 |
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