Should patients with epilepsy be vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Immediate and 6-month seizure outcomes following first and second SARS-CoV2 mRNA vaccinations: A multicenter study with a nationwide survey

“…In addition, our results do not provide a basis for refraining from future vaccination for PWE. SARS-CoV2 mRNA vaccination reported to be well-tolerated in PWE [33] . Thus, notifying PWE of the likelihood of seizure worsening following vaccination may allow PWE to avoid unanticipated events.…”

The effect of COVID-19 vaccination on epileptic seizures in patients with epilepsy: A clinical observation in China

“… 9–11 Low COVID-19 vaccination coverage (70.3%) and willingness (58%) in PWE have been reported by a recent meta-analysis. 12 …”

“…In recent years, studies from Germany, Kuwait, Turkey 13–15 and Sichuan, China 16 showed no significant difference in adverse reactions between PWE and the general population after vaccination. A few studies also suggested that epilepsy-related problems such as an increase in seizure frequency and status epilepticus after COVID-19 vaccination were uncommon; 12 however, factors contributing to worsening seizures after vaccination have rarely been explored.…”

COVID-19 vaccination status and related process of care outcomes among U.S. adults with active epilepsy—National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2021

“…Consistent with findings indicating that COVID-19 vaccination coverage and intent to vaccinate are typically lowest among young adults (e.g., 18-39 years) and our study findings indicating that a significantly smaller percentage of adults 18-44 years of age with epilepsy than those without epilepsy received 2 COVID-19 vaccines, this study suggests that targeted communications for that age stratum may be needed [18] . Common factors associated with an unwillingness to obtain COVID-19 vaccination among people with epilepsy include concerns about aggravating epilepsy outcomes, fear of other unknown side-effects, and interactions between epilepsy medications and vaccines [11] . Epilepsy health and social service providers can increase awareness of the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination among people with epilepsy to improve intent to vaccinate.…”

“…Growing research has examined the effects of COVID-19 infection among people with epilepsy, safety and tolerability of the COVID-19 vaccines, and COVID-19 vaccination status among people with epilepsy [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] . A review examining COVID-19 vaccination coverage and willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 based on international samples of patients with epilepsy (up to April 30, 2022) reported suboptimal levels of COVID-19 vaccination coverage and intent to vaccinate [11] . There are no published national estimates of COVID-19 vaccination status among U.S. adults with active epilepsy.…”