Inflammatory Bowel Disease and COVID-19 Vaccination: A Patients’ Survey

Abstract

Background Vaccination against COVID-19 is a major public health challenge, including the community of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Vaccination coverage is suboptimal in inflammatory bowel disease population. It is of paramount importance to ensure an effective and rapid vaccination program with the adherence of the largest number of well-informed patients. Aims We assessed the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among inflammatory bowel disease patients. Methods We performed a survey as part of routine practice, between January 8th and February 22nd, 2021. All consecutive adult patients followed at Nancy University Hospital for inflammatory bowel disease were included. Patients completed a self-administered, structured, paper-based questionnaire. Demographic data, medical history, knowledge, and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination were collected. Results Among the 104 patients who responded to the survey, 57 patients (54.8%) had intent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine efficacy, social responsibility, herd immunity, and desire to return to normal life were associated with self-reported willingness to receive a vaccine (20.2%, 20.2%, 11.5%, and 15.4%, respectively). Unknown long-term safety, risk of adverse reaction to vaccine and concern that the vaccine is being developed too quickly were the most commonly reported reasons for non-uptake (27.9%, 15.4%, and 12.5%, respectively). Conclusion Half of the patients with inflammatory bowel disease would like to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. This rate is similar to that reported in the French general population. Despite some concerns, patients with inflammatory bowel disease understood the necessity to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Survey from China

“…It is not known whether health care professionals received recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccination. In our study, half of patients with IBD wished to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, and this rate was similar to that reported in the French general population [1]. In Italy, a survey measured the acceptance of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in an IBD population, and the proportion of patients willing to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 was 53.6%, which is similar to our cohort [2].…”

“…We read with interest the article by Bénédicte Caron et al, who performed a survey to assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [1]. They found that half of the patients with IBD wished to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.…”

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Japan

“…Our findings suggest that the proportion of patients with IBD who are hesitant about vaccination against COVID-19 vaccine is similar to that of the general population, as reported in different Japanese studies [6][7][8]. This prevalence of vaccine hesitancy in this study was relatively low compared with that in previous reports of patients with IBD [40,42]. This could be due to the timing of the study because COVID-19 has become recognized as a long-term issue and the high effectiveness and safety of vaccination have been widely recognized, although intentions vary widely according to the characteristics of the patient sample, country, and time period [6,[48][49][50].…”

Risk, Course, and Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children and Adults with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

“…In a recent French study, 104 IBD patients were asked to answer a questionnaire. In total, 54.8% of them expressed the intention to receive anti-COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, and this percentage was comparable to that of the general population in France [112].…”