American Academy of Neurology Recommends Routine Vaccination for MS Patients
Published September 8, 2019 | Vaccination, Vaccines
New guidelines released by the
American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recommend that patients with
multiple sclerosis (MS) should get routine vaccinations, including
annual influenza vaccinations. Multiple
sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that can affect a person’s brain,
optic nerves and spinal
cord. Patients with MS often experience muscle weakness and have difficulty with balance and coordination.1 2
According to AAN member and guideline lead author Mauricio Farez, MD, MPH of the FLENI Institution in Buenos Aires: “We reviewed all of the available evidence, and for people with MS, preventing infections through vaccine use is a key part of medical care. People with MS should feel safe and comfortable getting their recommended vaccinations.”3
Even though the AAN is recommending routine vaccinations for patients with MS, the guideline specifically acknowledges that some vaccines might not work well enough to prevent infection for some patients with MS who take certain MS medications or whether vaccination will worsen MS flares. Dr. Farez reinforces this noting, “Still, experts in MS urge their patients to hold off on scheduling their vaccinations if they are having an MS flare simply to avoid the potential for any complications.”3
It is worth noting that a report on the AAN guidelines states that Dr. Farez, who is the lead author of the guidelines, has received funding for travel from pharmaceutical companies Teva Argentina, Novartis Argentina and Merck Serono Argentina and received research support from biotechnology firm Biogen Idec of Cambridge, Massachusetts.4
The report also acknowledges that the second author of the guidelines, Jorge Correale, MD, is a member of the scientific advisory boards of pharmaceuticals Merck Serono LATAM, Novartis Argentina, Genzyme Argentina and Genzyme Global and has received funding for travel from Merck Serono Argentina.4
References:
cord. Patients with MS often experience muscle weakness and have difficulty with balance and coordination.1 2
According to AAN member and guideline lead author Mauricio Farez, MD, MPH of the FLENI Institution in Buenos Aires: “We reviewed all of the available evidence, and for people with MS, preventing infections through vaccine use is a key part of medical care. People with MS should feel safe and comfortable getting their recommended vaccinations.”3
Even though the AAN is recommending routine vaccinations for patients with MS, the guideline specifically acknowledges that some vaccines might not work well enough to prevent infection for some patients with MS who take certain MS medications or whether vaccination will worsen MS flares. Dr. Farez reinforces this noting, “Still, experts in MS urge their patients to hold off on scheduling their vaccinations if they are having an MS flare simply to avoid the potential for any complications.”3
It is worth noting that a report on the AAN guidelines states that Dr. Farez, who is the lead author of the guidelines, has received funding for travel from pharmaceutical companies Teva Argentina, Novartis Argentina and Merck Serono Argentina and received research support from biotechnology firm Biogen Idec of Cambridge, Massachusetts.4
The report also acknowledges that the second author of the guidelines, Jorge Correale, MD, is a member of the scientific advisory boards of pharmaceuticals Merck Serono LATAM, Novartis Argentina, Genzyme Argentina and Genzyme Global and has received funding for travel from Merck Serono Argentina.4
References:
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