Korea University College of Medicine Researcher Adds New Study Findings to Research in COVID-19 (Herpes zoster reactivation after mRNA and adenovirus-vectored coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination: Analysis of National Health Insurance Database): Coronavirus – COVID-19

2023 AUG 17 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Vaccine Daily -- Investigators discuss new findings in COVID-19. According to news originating from Seoul, South Korea, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Our study aimed to determine the risk of herpes zoster reactivation and COVID-19 vaccination (mRNA vaccine [BNT162b2] and adenovirus-vectored vaccine [ChAdOx1 nCoV-19]).”

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from Korea University College of Medicine: “This retrospective study analyzed herpes zoster cases diagnosed between February 26, 2021 and June 30, 2021 and registered in the National Health Insurance Service database. A matched case-control study with a 1:3 matching ratio, and a propensity score matching (PSM) study with a 1:1 ratio of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals were performed. In the matched case control analysis, BNT162b2 was associated with an increased risk of herpes zoster reactivation (first dose, adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.11 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.06-1.15]; second dose, aOR: 1.17 [95% CI: 1.12-1.23]). PSM analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in risk within 18 days following any vaccination (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.09 [95% CI: 1.02-1.16]). BNT162b2 was associated with an increased risk at 18 days post-vaccination (aHR: 1.65 [95% CI: 1.35-2.02]) and second dose (aHR: 1.10 [95% CI: 1.02-1.19]).”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “However, the risk did not increase in both analysis of ChAdOx1 vaccination. Conclusions: mRNA COVID-19 vaccination possibly increases the risk of herpes zoster reactivation, and thus close follow-up for herpes zoster reactivation is required.”

For more information on this research see: Herpes zoster reactivation after mRNA and adenovirus-vectored coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination: Analysis of National Health Insurance Database. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2023. The publisher for The Journal of Infectious Diseases is Oxford University Press (OUP).

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiad297.

Our news editors report that more information may be obtained by contacting Jin Gu Yoon, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Additional authors for this research include Young-Eun Kim, Min Joo Choi, Won Suk Choi, Yu Bin Seo, Jaehun Jung, Hak-Jun Hyun, Hye Seong, Eliel Nham, Ji Yun Noh, Joon Young Song, Woo Joo Kim, Dong Wook Kim, Hee Jin Cheong.

ORCID is an identifier for authors and includes bibliographic information. The following is ORCID information for the author of this research: Hee Jin Cheong (http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2532-1463).

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