IPC Weighs In On COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Psoriasis

“We anticipate that most patients with psoriasis who do not have a contraindication or a known allergy to a vaccine component will be recommended to receive one of these SARS-CoV-2 vaccines as soon as possible based on local availability and guidance from local public health bodies.”

The International Psoriasis Council (IPC) released guidance on the potential impact of psoriasis therapy, particularly systemic therapy, on a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

The principal considerations for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are the same as for any vaccine, the IPC notes.  Avoid live-attenuated vaccines if receiving an immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory medication and be aware that the effectiveness of vaccination may be attenuated in people taking drugs that affect the immune system. 

Currently the three vaccines closest to use at a population level are either RNA-based (Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna) or based on replication deficient virus (Oxford/AstraZeneca). Thus, they are not live attenuated vaccines.  

“We anticipate that most patients with psoriasis who do not have a contraindication or a known allergy to a vaccine component will be recommended to receive one of these SARS-CoV-2 vaccines as soon as possible based on local availability and guidance from local public health bodies,” the group states.

Trials to date have not included people taking drugs that affect the immune system and thus the effects of the vaccines in this specific population will need to be established.  

Many people with psoriasis have raised concerns about potential adverse effects of vaccines on their skin disease. However, there is no evidence that vaccines affect psoriasis onset or severity. Registry data should be collected to inform whether SARS-Cov-2 vaccines either positively or negatively affect psoriasis outcomes, the IPC notes.

The IPC will continue to provide updates to the global dermatology community as we learn more about SARS-CoV-2, vaccines and their impact on psoriasis.