• The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain a live virus and cannot infect you with coronavirus.
• The first three COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration work by “educating” immune cells to recognize and attack the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
• If you are unsure whether a COVID-19 vaccine is right for you, talk to your health care provider.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation, guidance on disease management issued by medical societies is subject to change. The information contained in this article represents what is believed to be the most relevant COVID-19-related guidance based on the most up-to-date publications as of March 25, 2021.

Recently, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) updated its COVID-19 Task Force guidelines. It is important that you talk to your doctor about managing your psoriasis and receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Many MyPsoriasisTeam members have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. This article compiles available information to help answer some of those questions.

What Types of Vaccines Are Currently Authorized for COVID-19?

Two of the three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the U.S. — the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines — are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. These are a brand new type of vaccine. The availability of these COVID-19 vaccines is the culmination of 30 years of work and research into mRNA technology and a recent streamlining of the use authorization process for vaccines. Vaccines based on mRNA are believed to produce a stronger immune response than traditional vaccines. Researchers are currently studying their use against other infectious diseases and cancer.

The third COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized for use in the U.S., the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, is a viral vector vaccine. Viral vector vaccines have been studied for over 50 years and were used in recent Ebola outbreaks.

How Does an mRNA Vaccine Work?

The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (including the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines) do not contain the actual coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and cannot cause you to develop COVID-19. These mRNA vaccines work by giving cells instructions on how to create a small fragment of viral protein. The protein “educates” the immune system and results in a strong protective immune response if you are exposed to the coronavirus.

How Does a Viral Vector Vaccine Work?

The Johnson & Johnson viral vector vaccine was developed using an adenovirus, the same virus that causes the common cold. First, the virus was changed so it can’t make anyone sick. This modified cold virus is then used to deliver the genetic blueprint of a specific protein to cells, so the body’s immune system will be able to recognize that protein when it encounters the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

What Are the Most Common Side Effects of the COVID-19 Vaccines?

The COVID-19 vaccines are so new that there is not yet any specific data on results or side effects in people with psoriatic disease. The most common side effects for the COVID-19 vaccines in the general population are:

• Pain at the injection site
• Swollen, painful lymph nodes in the arm where the vaccine was injected
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Chills
• Fever
• Sore muscles or joints
• Nausea and vomiting

In rare cases, severe allergic reactions may occur.

Can Vaccines Trigger Psoriasis Flares?

Very rarely, people with psoriasis (most often guttate psoriasis) experience a disease flare after receiving an immunization, such as those for flu, pneumonia, or tetanus. It’s important to remember that the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines work in a different way from live vaccines or other traditional vaccines that have — in rare cases — been associated with psoriasis flares. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Can You Skip the Second COVID-19 Vaccine Dose of the mRNA Vaccines?

The currently authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are administered as two doses. The second dose should be timed 21 days after the first dose for the Pfizer vaccine and 28 days after for the Moderna vaccine. The vaccines were authorized based on clinical trials that included administration of both doses, so it is important to get the second dose for the vaccine to be fully effective. The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is not considered an mRNA vaccine and is given as a single dose.

Asking Your Doctor About COVID-19 Vaccines

If you are unsure whether a COVID-19 vaccine is right for you, consider talking to your dermatologist, rheumatologist, or other health care provider about it. You may want to ask the following questions:

• Do I have any contraindications that mean I should avoid getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
• Will any of my medications reduce the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine?
• Should I try to schedule my COVID-19 vaccines around treatments for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis?
• Do the benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any potential risks?
• If I have a choice, which vaccine should I receive?

As more people are vaccinated around the world, researchers will gain specific information about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in those living with — and treating — psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Your health care provider is likely to have the most up-to-date information available and can explain how it relates to your individual condition.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyPsoriasisTeam is the social network for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and their loved ones. On MyPsoriasisTeam, more than 90,000 members come together to ask questions, provide advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with psoriasis.

Are you living with psoriasis and curious about the COVID-19 vaccine? Have you had the vaccine already? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.