COVID-19 Vaccination Induces T Cell Response in Patients Treated with Rituximab

Should the Previously Infected Be Vaccinated?

The findings have implications for patients who have been infected with COVID-19 and recovered. Dr. Aletaha says, in Austria, individuals who have COVID-19 are publicly recognized the same as vaccinated individuals. However, it’s not clear if formerly infected individuals have the same protection from disease as vaccinated individuals. Thus, notes Dr. Aletaha, vulnerable patients with rheumatic disease who have recovered from COVID-19 may still benefit from vaccination.

“The strategy is to give them an additional shot to achieve a boost,” says Dr. Aletaha, adding, “The first shot is the natural acquisition, and the second shot is the booster.”

References

1. Tepasse PR, Hafezi W, Lutz, M, et al. Persisting SARS-CoV-2 viremia after rituximab therapy: Two cases with fatal outcome and a review of the literature. Br J Haematol. 2020 Jul;190(2):185–188.
2. Bonelli MM, Mrak D, Perkmann T, et al. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in rituximab-treated patients: Evidence for impaired humoral, but inducible cellular immune response. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 May 6. Online ahead of print.
3. Mrak D, Tobudic S, Koblischke M, et al. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in rituximab-treated patients: B cells promote humoral immune responses in the presence of T-cell-mediated immunity. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 Jul 20. Online ahead of print.
4. Werbel WA, Boyarsky BJ, Ou MT, et al. Safety and immunogenicity of a third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients: A case series. Ann Intern Med. 2021 Jun 15;L21-0282. Online ahead of print.