Herpes zoster after COVID vaccination. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Dam, C.S.; Lede, I.; Schaar, J.; Al-Dulaimy, M.; Rösken, R.; Smits, M.
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 111(2021)
• Page Start: 169
• Page End: 171
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.08.048
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: COVID-19 can present as a skin manifestation, including varicella-zoster reactivation The development of herpes zoster after vaccination with tozinameran is described in two adults A possible cause is a transient lymphocytopenia that occurs after vaccination An evaluation of the relationship between COVID-19 (vaccines) and herpes zoster is needed Abstract: COVID-19 presents in various ways, but mainly as a pulmonary disease (Marzano, 2020). Skin manifestations have been reported, including reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (Marzano, 2020). Our case report describes two adults developing herpes zoster after vaccination with tozinameran (the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine). A possible cause for this reaction is a transient lymphocytopenia that occurs after the vaccination — similar to that in COVID-19 disease (Mulligan, 2020; Wang, 2020; Qin, 2020; Brabilla, 2020; Wang, 2020; Wei, 2017). In the context of vaccinating older and/or immunocompromised adults, our observations can be the starting point for further evaluation of a possible relationship between COVID-19, COVID vaccines, and herpes zoster.