Publication on COVID-19 vaccination through the eyes of patients

24.10.2022

The journal Frontiers in Immunology (IF 8.786) published an article entitled Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination uptake and hesitancy among Polish patients with inborn errors of immunity, autoinflammatory syndromes and rheumatic diseases: A multicenter survey prepared under the direction of Ewy Więsik-Szewczyk, Ph.D. of the Military Medical Institute – National Research Institute. One of the co-authors of the publication is Marcin Ziętkiewicz, Ph.D. from the Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology, Geriatrics and Internal Medicine of the MUG.

from left: Marcin Ziętkiewicz, Ph.D. & Ewa Więsik-Szewczyk, Ph.D.

The paper presents the results of a multicenter survey of patients with innate immune defects, autoinflammatory syndromes, and rheumatologic diseases treated with biological drugs. These are groups of patients at high risk for infectious complications, including SARS-CoV2 infections. The study was conducted from September 20, 2021, to January 22, 2022, when primary vaccination against COVID-19 was available to all adults in Poland. The study assessed vaccination rates and factors influencing patients’ attitudes toward vaccination. In the entire study group, 81% of patients were vaccinated, and 82% were willing to receive a booster dose. Patients who did not receive the vaccine had doubts about the safety of the preparations used, feared an exacerbation of the underlying disease and were less educated. Half of the unvaccinated respondents said they would consider changing their decision in the future.

The entire article is vailable at https://www.frontiersin.org.

photo: private archives