American College of Rheumatology Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients With Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases: Version 5.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To provide guidance to rheumatology providers on the use of COVID-19 vaccines for patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).

METHODS:

A task force was assembled that included 9 rheumatologists/immunologists, 2 infectious diseases specialists, and 2 public health physicians. After agreeing on scoping questions, an evidence report was created that summarized the published literature and publicly available data regarding COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and safety, as well as literature for other vaccines in RMD patients. Task force members rated their agreement with draft consensus statements on a 9-point numerical scoring system, using a modified Delphi process and the RAND/University of California Los Angeles Appropriateness Method, with refinement and iteration over 2 sessions. Consensus was determined based on the distribution of ratings.

RESULTS:

Despite a paucity of direct evidence, statements were developed by the task force and agreed upon with consensus to provide guidance for use of the COVID-19 vaccines, including supplemental/booster dosing, in RMD patients and to offer recommendations regarding the use and timing of immunomodulatory therapies around the time of vaccination.

CONCLUSION:

These guidance statements are intended to provide direction to rheumatology health care providers on how to best use COVID-19 vaccines and to facilitate implementation of vaccination strategies for RMD patients.

• Authors: Jeffrey R Curtis, Sindhu R Johnson, Donald D Anthony, Reuben J Arasaratnam, Lindsey R Baden, Anne R Bass, Cassandra Calabrese, Ellen M Gravallese, Rafael Harpaz, Andrew Kroger, Rebecca E Sadun, Amy S Turner, Eleanor Anderson Williams, Ted R Mikuls
• Journal: Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) (Arthritis Rheumatol) Vol. 75 Issue 1 Pg. E1-E16 (01 2023) ISSN: 2326-5205 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 36345691 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2022 American College of Rheumatology.

Chemical References

• COVID-19 Vaccines

Topics

• Humans
• United States
• Rheumatology
• COVID-19 Vaccines (therapeutic use)
• Rheumatic Diseases (drug therapy)
• COVID-19 (prevention & control)
• Musculoskeletal Diseases
• Vaccination