A new, large-scale study from the University of São Paulo (USP) confirms the safety of the shingles vaccine for patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as lupus and arthritis. The research was published in the journal The Lancet Rheumatology.
Key Findings
Study Population: The research followed 1,192 patients with nine different diagnoses. This group included individuals with active disease – such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis – or those taking immunosuppressant medications to reduce immune system activity.
No Disease Worsening: The vaccine did not worsen pre-existing conditions. The rate of disease flare-ups was 14% in vaccinated individuals, comparable to the 15% observed in the placebo group.
