Background and purpose Health risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection are undisputed.
Moreover, the capability of vaccination to prevent symptomatic, severe, and fatal
COVID-19 is recognized. There is also early evidence that vaccination can reduce the
chance for long COVID-19. Nonetheless, the willingness to get vaccinated and receive
booster shots remains subpar among people with neurologic disorders. Vaccine scepticism
not only jeopardizes collective efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic but puts individual
lives at risk, as some chronic neurologic diseases are associated with a higher risk
for an unfavorable COVID-19 course. Methods In this position paper, the NeuroCOVID-19
Task Force of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) summarizes the current knowledge
on the prognosis of COVID-19 among patients with neurologic disease, elucidates potential
barriers to vaccination coverage, and formulates strategies to overcome vaccination
hesitancy. A survey among the Task Force members on the phenomenon of vaccination
hesitancy among people with neurologic disease supports the lines of argumentation.
Results The study revealed that people with multiple sclerosis and other nervous system
autoimmune disorders are most skeptical of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The prevailing
concerns included the chance of worsening the pre-existing neurological condition,
vaccination-related adverse events, and drug interaction. Conclusions The EAN NeuroCOVID-19
Task Force reinforces the key role of neurologists as advocates of COVID-19 vaccination.
Neurologists need to argue in the interest of their patients about the overwhelming
individual and global benefits of COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, they need to keep
on eye on this vulnerable patient group, its concerns, and the emergence of potential
safety signals.
