Abstract

Objective The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination coverage, willingness, and safety profiles in patients with epilepsy remain poorly understood. We aimed to summarize the available evidences of COVID-19 vaccination coverage, willingness, and safety profiles among patients with epilepsy. Methods We performed a literature search in the Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register database between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2022. We included eligible studies that provided information on the COVID-19 vaccination coverage, willingness, and safety profiles among patients with epilepsy. We investigated the association between baseline characteristics of patients with epilepsy and unvaccination status using a fixed-effect model. We calculated the pooled overall willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19. We systematically reviewed the safety profiles after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with epilepsy. Results Ten eligible observational studies and two case-reports yielded 2589 participants with epilepsy or their caregivers. Among 2145 participants that provided the information of vaccination status, 1508 (70.3%) patients with epilepsy were not administered COVID-19 vaccine, and 58% (95%CI 40% - 75%) of respondents were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Seizure status (active versus inactive, OR 1.84 95%CI 1.41 - 2.39, I2 = 0%) rather than seizure type (focal versus non-focal, OR 1.22 95%CI 0.94 - 1.58, I2 = 0%) was associated with COVID-19 unvaccination status. Vaccines were well-tolerated; epilepsy related problems such as increase in seizure frequency and status epilepticus after COVID-19 vaccination were uncommon. Conclusions Our findings suggest a low COVID-19 vaccination coverage and willingness in patients with epilepsy. Vaccination against COVID-19 appears to be well-tolerated and safe in patients with epilepsy, supporting a positive outlook towards vaccination in this population.

  • All age groups
  • Parents/caregivers
  • Vaccine/vaccination
  • Coverage
  • Safety
  • Acceptance
  • COVID-19