key: cord-1055836-tiryd91r
authors: Sotiriou, E.; Bakirtzi, K.; Papadimitriou, I.; Paschou, E.; Vakirlis, E.; Lallas, A.; Ioannides, D.
title: Intention of COVID‐19 vaccination among psoriatic patients compared to immunosuppressed patients with other skin diseases and factors influencing their decision
date: 2021-02-20
journal: Br J Dermatol
DOI: 10.1111/bjd.19882
sha: 61f4ce5b805d609a9f0baff42947fe1cc1363f72
doc_id: 1055836
cord_uid: tiryd91r

Psoriasis (Ps) is a chronic, immune‐mediated skin disease with systemic involvement. Therapeutic advancements in its management have considerably improved disease activity and quality of life, and reduced hospitalization rates. Nevertheless, prolonged immunosuppression in psoriatic patients may increase their susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

advancements in its management have considerably improved disease activity and quality of life, and reduced hospitalization rates. Nevertheless, prolonged immunosuppression in psoriatic patients may increase their susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Studies report higher rates of severe infections requiring hospitalization of patients between psoriatic and non-psoriatic ones, with lower respiratory tract infections being the most common. 1 Accordingly, dermatology societies worldwide advocate vaccination for this high-risk population. 2-4 Nowadays, the COVID-19 crisis has raised substantial concerns among psoriatic patients, particularly the immunosuppressed ones. 5 The promising results of COVID-19 vaccines, however, seem to turn SARS-CoV-2 infection into a preventable disease. The objective of this study was to compare the intention of patients with moderate-to-severe Ps to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 to the equivalent intention of patients with other skin diseases who also receive immunosuppressive

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved medication. Additionally, in Ps patients alone, we examined factors associated with a positive or negative stance on vaccination.

This observational, single-institution study was conducted between 10 th and 25 th November 2020 at the 1st Dermatology Department (Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece). Overall Psoriatic patients were 32% more willing to receive the vaccine compared to the control group 

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved Satisfactory levels of herd immunity could only be achieved through high rates of vaccination coverage and acceptance. Amid pandemic crisis, patient-reported health behaviours are of high translational value, as essential components of apprising preventative care. Our results demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Ps patients seems to be driven by heightened risk perception and health awareness, mostly in younger people and highly educated individuals. Nevertheless, our findings presented herein should be interpreted with caution, as our study is limited to a single centre.

Conclusively, a strong emphasis on the provision of evidence-based information to Ps patients is needed. Factors influencing patients' decision of vaccine uptake and individual features of subpopulations should be considered whenever COVID-19 immunization strategies are designed by policy-makers and national health systems. 

Risk of hospitalization and death due to infection in people