Attitudes towards and safety of the SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccines in 188 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a post-vaccination cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Vaccination is key in mastering the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on attitudes towards and safety of the SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are limited. A post-vaccination cross-sectional survey was conducted to obtain data on attitudes towards and safety of the SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccines in SLE patients compared to healthy controls. A post-vaccination cross-sectional survey was conducted in 188 patients with SLE and in 190 healthy controls who had received at least one dose of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine to find out post-vaccination adverse event (AE) or SLE flares. A total of 188 patients with SLE and 190 healthy controls vaccinated with the two-dose regimen SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine were enrolled in the study. The two groups were matched in age, sex, medical background, income, and education level. All the SLE patients were in disease remission or with low disease activity with a median age of 35 years, a sex constituent ratio of 87.4% female, and a median disease duration of 4 years. SLE patients had much more concerns about vaccination safety (44.7% vs. 15.8%, P < 0.001), and were much less willing to get vaccinated (57.4% vs. 88.4%, P < 0.001). SLE patients had more mild adverse events after the first vaccine dose (43.6% vs. 25.3%, P = 0.008), and less mild adverse events after the second vaccine dose (19.8% vs. 34.9%, P = 0.024), compared with healthy controls. The AEs were minor and there were no serious or major adverse events in both groups. In patients with SLE, the post-vaccination disease activity remained stable. One previously undiagnosed female progressed into symptomatic SLE after one week of vaccination. Although SLE patients had concerns about the safety of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, the inactivated vaccination was safe in patients with stable SLE.