Early safety and tolerability profile of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in myasthenia gravis

Although the COVID-19 vaccines are currently recommended for people with myasthenia gravis (MG), there is no data regarding the safety of the vaccines in this population. In order to investigate the real-life safety data of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in people with MG, an anonymous survey was distributed to 142 MG patients. Fifty-six MG patients completed the questionnaire. The median age was 53 years (range 23-83 years); 35 (62.5%) were males, and 25 (44.6%) had associated comorbidities. Thirty-seven participants (66.1%) were treated with immunotherapies. Fifty-five participants (98.2% of the responders) received the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine. Of these, 32 (58.2%) were < 55 years old, and 23 (41.8%) were > 55 years old. Adverse events were more common in patients younger than 55 years old (46.9% Vs. 17.4%; p = 0.0428). Eight participants (14.5%) reported worsening neurological symptoms following the vaccination. Three of those who reported worsening of neurological symptoms (37.5%) required additional treatment. Most events occurred within the first few days after vaccination and resolved within a few weeks. This survey indicates an overall favorable safety and tolerability profile of the BNT162b2 vaccine in people with MG. Additional prospective, large-scale studies are warranted to confirm these findings. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.