Vaccination Impacts on Multiple Sclerosis Management

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system that often requires long-term immunomodulatory treatment. Vaccinations play a critical role in reducing the risk of infection-related relapses and comorbidities in MS patients, particularly those receiving disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). The safety profile of inactivated vaccines is well established in MS, whereas live-attenuated vaccines demand caution in immunosuppressed individuals. Emerging evidence indicates that many DMTs exert variable effects on vaccine-induced immune responses: some agents preserve both humoral and cellular immunity, while others attenuate antibody titres or T-cell activation. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for tailored vaccination schedules, optimising timing relative to DMT administration to maximise immunogenicity without compromising MS control. Vaccine hesitancy remains an impediment to coverage, driven by unfounded concerns over disease exacerbation. Comprehensive guidance now supports routine immunisation against influenza, pneumococcus and SARS-CoV-2, with attention to monitoring antibody responses and adjusting DMT dosing where appropriate. Novel vaccine platforms and MS-targeted vaccine candidates offer future avenues to harness immune tolerance and potentially modulate disease activity. Globally, integrating vaccination into holistic MS care reduces morbidity, informs public health strategies and exemplifies personalised medicine.

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Vaccination Impacts on Multiple Sclerosis Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in vaccination impacts on multiple sclerosis management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs): Treatments that alter the course of MS by modulating or suppressing immune function.

Humoral immunity: The component of the immune system mediated by antibodies produced by B lymphocytes.

Cellular immunity: Immune response involving T lymphocytes that target and destroy infected or altered cells.

Vaccine hesitancy: Reluctance or refusal to be vaccinated despite availability of vaccination services.

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS): The common MS subtype characterised by episodes of neurological symptoms followed by periods of partial or full recovery.

References

1. Vaccination in Multiple Sclerosis: Friend or Foe?. Frontiers in Immunology (2019).
2. Protecting people with multiple sclerosis through vaccination. Practical Neurology (2020).
3. Current Immunological and Clinical Perspective on Vaccinations in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Are They Safe after All?. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).
4. Vaccine Response in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Receiving Teriflunomide. Frontiers in Neurology (2022).
5. Approach to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in Immunology (2021).