Safety and adverse events following COVID‐19 vaccination among people with epilepsy: A cross‐sectional study

OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy is a non‐communicable disease costing a massive burden globally. It is known that there is increased prevalence of morbidity and mortality following COVID‐19 infection among people with epilepsy (PWE). However, there is limited information about the adverse events following COVID‐19 immunization among PWE. Hence, this study aimed to assess the safety and adverse events following immunization (AEFI) of various COVID‐19 vaccines among PWE from our centre, focusing on neurological AEFI. METHODS: This cross‐sectional study recruited 120 adult PWE from the Neurology Clinic of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Consent‐taking was conducted via synchronous or asynchronous approaches, followed by a phone call interview session. The interview collected socio‐demographic information, epilepsy‐related variables, and vaccination‐related variables. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were done to confirm factors associated with the AEFI of COVID‐19 vaccination. RESULTS: Among all types of COVID‐19 vaccines, most of the PWE received the Cominarty® COVID‐19 vaccination (52.5%). Overall, local AEFI was the quickest to develop, with an average onset within a day. PWE with normal body mass index (BMI) had a higher risk of developing both local and systemic AEFI compared to those underweight and obese PWE (OR: 15.09, 95% CI 1.70–134.28, P = 0.02). SIGNIFICANCE: COVID‐19 vaccines are safe for PWE. AEFI among PWE are similar to those of the general population following COVID‐19 vaccination. Therefore, clinicians should encourage PWE to take COVID‐19 vaccines.