Laura Dorwart is a health journalist with expertise in disability rights, mental health, and pregnancy-related conditions. She has written for publications like SELF, The New York Times, VICE, and The Guardian.
Smita Patel, MD is triple board-certified in neurology, sleep medicine, and integrative medicine.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the myelin sheath —the layer of tissue that protects the nerve cells. This damage affects the spinal cord, brain, and/or eyes.
Certain vaccines can trigger MS symptom flare-ups in some people with the disorder. Some people with multiple sclerosis wonder if they should get vaccinated against COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus). According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, it’s safe and important for people with MS to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and MS, including side effects, effectiveness, and risks.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use in the United States:
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are fully FDA approved in a two-dose series for primary vaccination against COVID-19 and as a booster. Most people ages 18 and older should get a booster shot at least five months after their last dose of Pfizer or Moderna.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in preventing COVID-19 and reducing the risk of serious complications, hospitalization, and death among people who do contract the virus.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society also recommends that people with MS get vaccinated against COVID-19—preferably with Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna—to prevent COVID-19 and related complications.
Recent research suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for most people with MS. People with MS who get breakthrough COVID-19 infections—infections that occur in fully vaccinated people—have a significantly reduced risk of:
Many people experience side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. This is typically a sign that your body is working to build immunity against SARS-CoV-2. As reported by the CDC, the most common side effects of the COVID vaccine are:
A 2022 study revealed that 54.5% of people with MS experienced at least one side effect after receiving a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The most common side effects they reported were mild and short-lived, such as:
Most side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine resolve on their own within a few days. If your side effects are not going away, reach out to your healthcare provider.
If you experience signs of anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) shortly after getting the COVID-19 vaccine—with symptoms such as swelling, difficulty breathing, hives, or a rash—seek emergency medical help immediately.
If you experience side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, it is usually safe to take over-the-counter (OTC, without a prescription) medication, such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen). If you experience pain in the area where you received the shot, arm movement and a cool, damp washcloth may help.
Drinking extra fluids and dressing in cool clothes can help to relieve fever symptoms. Talk to your healthcare provider if your side effects are persistent or start to get worse.
Some people with MS are concerned about the potential risks of the COVID-19 vaccine, including post-vaccine MS flare-ups and the effects of MS medications.
Some people with multiple sclerosis experience MS relapses after getting certain vaccines. In general, if you are currently experiencing an MS flare-up, you should wait until your symptoms are under control to receive the vaccine.
Research suggests that MS symptom flare-ups are rare after the COVID-19 vaccine. In one recent study, 3.8% of MS patients experienced a temporary flare-up after receiving a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot. Meanwhile, only 3.3% of people with MS experienced a severe relapse after getting their third shot.
According to the National MS Society, the COVID-19 vaccine is not likely to trigger an MS flare-up. For most people with MS, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.
Many people with MS take disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to slow down the progression of their disorder and control their symptoms. DMTs typically work by reducing the body’s natural immune response and level of inflammation.
Because they are immunosuppressants, DMTs can increase your risk of infection. They can also make certain vaccines less effective. People with MS who are taking DMTs should typically not receive live vaccines (vaccines that contain a weakened, or attenuated, version of a virus).
However, the COVID-19 vaccine is not a live vaccine. Instead, both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. They teach the body’s immune system to detect and fight off the SARS-CoV-2 virus using a copy of a blueprint for a certain protein.
Most people who take DMTs to control MS symptoms should still receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, it may be best for you to get vaccinated against COVID-19 either before you start or after you finish taking certain MS medications. These may include:
If you are taking or about to start taking an immunosuppressant for MS, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you decide how to time your vaccine doses safely and effectively.
Talk to your healthcare provider before getting the COVID-19 vaccine if you:
The COVID-19 vaccine effectively protects people with MS from contracting SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine also lowers the risk of hospitalization for COVID-related complications.
However, some MS medications may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. One 2022 study found that people with MS who were taking disease-modifying drugs developed fewer antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 after being fully vaccinated.
Similarly, in a 2021 study, only 3.8% of fully vaccinated MS patients contracted COVID-19. The majority of these patients were either undergoing anti-CD20 therapy or taking Gilenya (fingolimod), a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator.
However, the study also suggested that fully vaccinated patients with MS had a significantly reduced risk of ICU admission and death, regardless of what DMTs they were taking.
According to the CDC, adults who are moderately or severely immunocompromised—whether by a disease, treatment, or medication—should get four doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. If your immune function is compromised by an MS medication, talk to your healthcare provider about getting an additional COVID-19 booster shot.
MS is an autoimmune disorder, which means that it causes the immune system to attack its own healthy cells. It can also heighten the body’s natural inflammatory response.
Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders like MS do not necessarily put you at a higher risk of getting COVID-19. However, some people with MS may have a greater chance of experiencing severe illness from COVID-10, including:
It’s especially important for people in these high-risk groups to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccine offers effective protection against SARS-CoV-2 and related complications, such as severe illness and ICU admission. Research suggests that both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are over 94% effective.
Studies also indicate the COVID vaccine continues to protect you from hospitalization and death, even months after your last dose.
Older and immunocompromised people—including some people with MS—have a higher risk of being hospitalized, becoming severely ill, or dying from COVID-19. The CDC currently recommends that immunocompromised people ages 12 and older receive four doses of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna in a three-dose series followed by a booster shot.
For additional protection, people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised can choose to receive a fifth dose after their first booster.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the nervous system, including the brain and/or spinal cord. The COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, as well as hospitalization, severe illness, and death.
Because certain vaccines may lead to MS flare-ups or relapses, some people with MS are unsure about whether they should get vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to the CDC and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, most people with MS should be fully vaccinated with the vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna, including any recommended booster doses.
Research suggests that most people with MS experience only mild side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. People who take disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to control their MS symptoms should talk to their healthcare provider about timing their vaccine doses correctly.
If you have MS and are worried about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you decide whether you should get the vaccine, how to prepare for possible side effects, and how to time your doses in a way that works best for you.
In general, people with MS do not have a higher risk of getting COVID-19. However, people with MS who are older, take disease-modifying therapies (DMT), and/or are in the Black or Hispanic/Latino communities may have an increased chance of COVID-19 complications, including hospitalization and intubation.
Pregnant people with MS, people with comorbid health conditions, people with progressive MS, and people who are significantly disabled by MS are also in high-risk groups. It is especially important for people in these groups to get vaccinated.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people ages 5 and older should get the COVID-19 vaccine. People ages 12 and older should get a booster dose. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends that people with multiple sclerosis receive the COVID-19 vaccine, especially if they are in a high-risk group.
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for most people. It can help to prevent you from contracting SARS-CoV-2, and it reduces your risk of related complications, such as severe illness, hospitalization, intubation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and death.
Most of the reported side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, such as muscle pain and fatigue, are mild and go away on their own. Serious side effects from the COVID vaccine (such as a severe allergic reaction) are extremely rare.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.
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