SynthesisEuropean journal of internal medicine2022
Varicella-Zoster virus reactivation following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination or infection: New insights.
Synthesis in European journal of internal medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- COVID-19 in Space: Possible Health Risks and Preparedness Guidelines.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Pooled it
- Herpesviruses reactivation following COVID-19 vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of medical research · 2023Pooled it
- The Association Between COVID-19 and Herpes Zoster in Adult Populations: A Systematic Review.Cureus · 2026Review
- Varicella-zoster Virus Reactivation with Severe Pneumonia Following Convalescence from Coronavirus Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review.Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) · 2025Review
- Multisystem Endothelial Inflammation: A Key Driver of Adverse Events Following mRNA-Containing COVID-19 Vaccines.Vaccines · 2025Review
- Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji Associated with Elevated Varicella-zoster Virus Complement-fixing Antibody Titers Following BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination.Acta dermato-venereologica · 2025Article
- Herpes zoster in a patient with first onset of childhood nephrotic syndrome following the second SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.CEN case reports · 2024Article
- Exploring the Link between Varicella-Zoster Virus, Autoimmune Diseases, and the Role of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine.Biomolecules · 2024Review
- Article
- Herpesviridae and Atypical Bacteria Co-Detections in Lower Respiratory Tract Samples of SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit.Microorganisms · 2024Article
- SARS-CoV-2 Induced Herpes Virus Reactivations and Related Implications in Oncohematology: When Lymphocytopenia Sets in and Immunosurveillance Drops Out.Microorganisms · 2023Article
- Article
- Pathogenesis Underlying Neurological Manifestations of Long COVID Syndrome and Potential Therapeutics.Cells · 2023Review
- Review
- Corneal Adverse Events Associated with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review.Vaccines · 2023Review
- Rethinking the Utility of the Audio-Only Encounter: A Case of Herpes Zoster Co-Infection in Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2.Clinical medicine insights. Case reports · 2023Article
- COVID-19 and herpes zoster: a call to action.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Not Just a Rash: Herpes Zoster-induced Progressive Cardiac Block.Kansas journal of medicine · 2023Article
- Herpes zoster ophthalmicus after COVID-19 vaccine booster in healthy younger adult: a case report.Clinical and experimental vaccine research · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionVaricella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation has been reported following vaccination for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but the real extent remains unknown.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review to summarize evidence of VZV reactivation or infection following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Episodes after coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) were also identified. Related articles were identified in PubMed and EMBASE databases till December 31, 2021 using the terms "varicella zoster" and "COVID-19″. PROSPERO Register Number: CRD42021289399.
resultsThe search revealed 314 articles, of which 55 met the inclusion criteria. VZV manifestations were documented in 179 (82.1%) subjects following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and in 39 (17.9%) patients with COVID-19. Among the vaccinated, median (IQR) age was 56.5 (42-70) years, and 56.8% were female. Twenty-one (16.8%) were immunosuppressed. The median (IQR) latency time after vaccination was 6 (3-10) days, and 84.4% received mRNA vaccines. VZV reactivation occurred following a first dose (68.2%), a second dose (12.8%) or a booster (0.6%). The most important VZV manifestation was dermatome herpes zoster rash, which accounted for 86.4% of events in vaccinated subjects. Twenty patients (11.3%) presented serious VZV events after vaccination, with Herpes Zoster ophthalmicus (5.6%) and post-herpetic neuralgia (3.4%) predominating. No VZV pneumonia or deaths were recorded. Antiviral prescriptions were made in 96.2% of vaccinated subjects. No significant differences between vaccinated and infected subjects were found.
conclusionThis study indicates that the occurrence of VZV reactivation is clinically relevant. However, our findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccination is safe, and remains strongly recommended.
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