Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Japan

Background Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are recommended to receive the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. However, a recent survey showed that patients with IBD are more hesitant to receive the vaccine than the general population. Detailed information on the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine is necessary to encourage vaccination among patients with IBD. Aim To investigate the frequency of side effects following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with IBD in Japan. Study design: a cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire administered to adult patients with IBD in a tertiary medical facility. Results Among the participants who answered the questionnaire, 92.6%, 91.5%, and 41.5% of the participants had received their first, second, and third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. Of the vaccinated participants, 88.3%, 86.3%, and 89.0% experienced side effects after receiving the first, second, and third doses of the vaccine, respectively. The incidences of fever, chills, and headaches were significantly higher among female participants than among male participants (p < 0.05). However, the frequencies of most side effects were comparable between the BNT162b2 mRNA and mRNA-1273 vaccines. Conclusion The findings of our survey can help encourage patients with IBD to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.