COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy in Celiacs

Celiac disease (CeD) is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten consumption, causing damage to the small intestine and increasing the risk of other autoimmune disorders. Questions have arisen regarding how individuals with CeD respond to vaccines, and while most vaccines, excluding the hepatitis B vaccine, provide the same benefits to those with CeD as the general population, concerns emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Historical data suggested reduced efficacy of the hepatitis B vaccine in children with CeD, but well-managed CeD on a gluten-free diet didn’t exhibit this issue. Given the absence of specific COVID-19 vaccine trial data for CeD patients, an international study by Maccabi KSM Research in Israel, published in Viruses and featured in Cision PR Newswire, aimed to address these concerns, with Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, a gastroenterologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, as a co-author.

The study, utilizing the Maccabi Healthcare Services database, included 5,381 CeD patients and 14,939 controls, analyzing the efficacy of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in CeD patients aged 12 and above. The results, irrespective of CeD control status, revealed that the Pfizer vaccine provides comparable protection against COVID-19 for CeD patients as it does for the general population.

The study categorized CeD patients based on disease control levels: well-controlled, uncontrolled, possibly not controlled, and newly diagnosed. The vaccine’s effectiveness remained consistent across all categories, reassuringly demonstrating its efficacy for individuals with CeD.

This study contributes to addressing concerns about the protection of CeD individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Lebwohl emphasized the importance of studying vaccine effectiveness in the context of CeD, stating, “With the introduction of potentially life-saving vaccines, it is important to study their effectiveness in people with celiac disease, and this study is one such opportunity.” The findings bridge gaps in data, alleviating worries about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals with CeD.