The Use of RNA-Based COVID-19 Vaccines and B Cell Therapy

As the number of people access vaccines to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are increasing, those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), and other are concerned about about the safety and efficacy of these vaccines as these individuals are receiving immunosuppressive medications. B cell depletion with anti-CD20 drugs such as rituximab, ocrelizumab, or the more recently approved, ofatumamab [1], are of particular interest because prior studies have suggested that there is a decrease in vaccine-induced protection in the setting of CD20 blockade [2]. While there is yet no published data about vaccine effectiveness of COVID-19 in any immunosuppressed populations, there are convincing arguments on both sides of the debate surrounding whether CD20 blocking immunotherapy may have an impact on the efficacy of new RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines.