Effectiveness and safety of the recombinant zoster vaccine in individuals ≥50 years of age with rheumatoid arthritis: a matched cohort and self-controlled case series study
Main finding · HZ, adjusted VEResult — go to the resultAdjusted VE 60.7% 95% CI 41.0%–73.8%Authors' conclusion
Among adults ≥50 years with RA, 2 RZV doses provided protection against HZ and PHN. The study did not observe an increased risk of RA flares within 30 days following RZV vaccination.
Study context
- Population
- Kaiser Permanente Southern California members aged ≥50 years with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)matched cohort
- Participants
- 1,926 vs 5,746
- Exposure
- 2 recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) doses vs RZV-unvaccinated
- 2-dose vaccinatedn = 1,926
- Unvaccinatedn = 5,746reference
- Outcome
- VE against herpes zoster (HZ)
Methodological detailsmatched up to 1:3, stratified Cox proportional hazards regression, conditional Poisson regression, interim analysis
- Matched up to 1:3
- Stratified Cox proportional hazards regression
- Conditional Poisson regression
- Interim analysis
Main finding
HZ, adjusted VE
Adjusted vaccine effectiveness (VE)
60.7%
95% CI 41.0%–73.8%
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate |
|---|---|
| HZ, subgroup with 2 doses 4 weeks to 6 months apart | VE 57.9% (95% CI 34.4%–73.0%) |
| PHN, adjusted VE | adjusted VE 88.7% (95% CI 12.1%–98.5%) |
Safety
| Outcome | RR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Chart-confirmed RA flare within 30 days after any RZV vaccination (self-controlled case series)Within 30 days after RZV vaccinationvs comparison periods | 1.02 (0.75–1.37) | |
| 0.512Relative risk (log scale) |
- Chart-confirmed RA flare within 30 days after any RZV vaccination (self-controlled case series): 2606 adults with RA who received ≥1 RZV dose
Chart-confirmed RA flare within 30 days after any RZV vaccination (self-controlled case series)
- No increased risk of RA flares within 30 days after RZV vaccination
Original publication
Effectiveness and safety of the recombinant zoster vaccine in individuals ≥50 years of age with rheumatoid arthritis: a matched cohort and self-controlled case series study. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 19 February 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →