COVID‐19 vaccination in patients with rheumatic diseases: Vaccination rates, patient perspectives, and side effects

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the vaccination rate, reported side effects, and patient concerns for COVID‐19 vaccination in patients with rheumatic diseases. METHODS: A multicentre cross‐sectional study from rheumatology clinics in two major hospitals in Hong Kong was conducted between June 3, 2021 and October 8, 2021. Patient interviews for demographics, clinical characteristics, vaccination status, reported side effects, and factors influencing decisions about vaccination were supplemented with structured questionnaires. RESULTS: Out of 1367 patients, 413 (30.2%) had received COVID‐19 vaccination. Side effects were reported in 335 (81.1%) of patients, of which the most common were injection site pain or swelling (66.3%), fatigue (57.1%), fever (19.9%), and headache (19.6%). Multivariate logistic regression models showed that males (odds ratio [OR] = 1.80; p < .001), higher education level (OR = 1.64; p < .001) and healthcare professionals (OR = 4.5; p < .001) were significantly more likely to have received the vaccine. In contrast, patients with hypertension (OR = 0.73; p = .04), systemic lupus erythematous (OR = 0.53; p < .001), stroke (OR = 0.29; p = .01), steroid therapy (OR = 0.59; p = .01), and leflunomide therapy (OR = 0.45; p = .05) were significantly less likely to be vaccinated. Younger age (age, OR = 0.96; p = .003) and messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines (OR = 4.79; p < .001) were associated with more side effects. There was no difference in risk of side effects between specific rheumatic diseases or drug therapies. CONCLUSION: COVID‐19 vaccination is associated with no increased risk of side effects in any particular disease or drug therapy, therefore vaccination should be encouraged in patients with rheumatic disease. In addition, younger age is associated minimally, while mRNA vaccine is associated with increased side effects.